The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-08-30
FIND ANCIENT WRECK OFF KEY WEST
JellY-Fish Stand Guard
Over Sunken Man O War
BY AL PALMER
Citizen Staff Reporter

Citizen Staff Reporter
Four Florida .frogmen' today rubbing shoulders
watery ghosts of ancient mariners around The
what appears be centuriescid heavilysrmed
rnan-of-war lying off the coast of Key West.
The hulk lies in 90 feet Of barracuda
patroed shark-infested where schools Of stngng
jelly protective curtain about the Cannon
plate and balls strewn estimated
$50 square yards.
A tcn-foot anchor minus its chain, grave
marker beside the ancient hulk while giant fish
play hide and seek among the holes in the coral which
blanIet the with a multi-colored Stroud
waly Palack, who stumbled on the wreck accident
ally Monday afternoon, described the awe
inspiring, spine-tingling and ghosty."
Kirby MacLean and myself out in my boat head-
ing favore grouper fishing spot" Paiack said q
dved overheard and the floor. Almost
rnediately realized that had mscacuated the fishing
ground int nded reach turned about begin swim
ming the surface and about so feet this an
Gent anchor.
Il swarm to, ard il and there spread the ocean
foor were about 80 cannon countless balls and
other objects couldn't distinguish felt II had
led into scene Spanish Main. 1t Gerry
could feel my skin creeping though
20 feet under water"
Palscs returned TO the surface and told MacLean d
his discovery MacIean the bottom and circulated
the wreck He described OF jeyfish be
ing like parachute with violet tr'mned siik
The repulsve things about the sire d medicine ball
and hang like curtains around the scene
Next day the pair joined ~ Ernie Ryskmsn an
chaes Alneids. both 81 whom al*c epefienced pea
fishermen. and another visit to the made
The foursome dove repeatedly 10 ths scene of ass
wreck brought approximately 20 balls Of
the surface coraI-encrusted
ing 80 inches also taken the hulk As we'll
aeayy, eroded hammer.
Almeda stated that countless varieties o life
guard wrecksge Il couldn't begin list TIC
colors these fish 1t is like ben~ in another world alo
gether You have keep eyes about The other
day shark made at Ernie and Waliyit was IN
tere sting ncident--to put il mildly
His arms and shoulders marked and btered By jelly
fish stngs Almeida told Of trying raise
measuring eight I'VE put four lines around il and la
ed end clear OF the floor but couldn't get i
10 the surface
PalIack had what he described As rngside seat ID
running Aatsle between two sharks measuring abous q
feet each length, and tapon Il don't know how the
battle turned To tell you the truth busy watch
ing FOR barracuda and Moray EEL
The Moray EEL" MacLean interrupted. .measlses
feet in length and viii attack neared 4
has head like snake and sharp, pointed teeth and
mutiiate you severely
The men brought what seemed to be pistol 10 The
surface Ii damaged in attempt knock the coral
from it Ryckman describes having barrel about
foot long, wooden stock and what may have been firing
point juttng out Of ID side.
The subtcrranean explorers believe mo- Of the hulk
beneath the bottom triangular of
measuring about feet between points, forms
ledge beneath which lies eightfeef long The
have yet whether the piece Of wreck
age is wood metal.
flat piece Of an unacceptable type Of metal
uring 14Is l71a inches, thickness slightly
less ineh believed have formed Of the
ships There several pieces Of metal Of similar
size spread about the floor.
Paack brought up oblong piece which, when freed
clngns coral proved be solid brass He reported
Continued
Announcing The - - - -