Lofthus (shipwreck) - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Lofthus (shipwreck) - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Lofthus (also known as the Cashmere) is a Norwegian shipwreck (which sank in 1898) near Boynton Beach, Florida, United States. Built in 1868 in Sunderland, England by T.R. Oswald, the 222-foot iron-hulled vessel was originally christened Cashmere and rigged as a three masted barque.Florida Department of State. (2006, October 16). Lofthus. https://web.archive.org/web/20061016225109/http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/preserves/uwlofthus.cfm. She was painted with false gunports to ward off Sumatran and Javanese pirates. After a career in the East Indian trade Cashmere was sold to a Norwegian firm, renamed Lofthus, and used in the American trade.Florida Department of State. (2006, October 16). Lofthus. https://web.archive.org/web/20061016225109/http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/preserves/uwlofthus.cfm. On February 4, 1898, the Lofthaus wrecked in a storm en route to Buenos Aires, Argentina from Pensacola, Florida. The crew of 16 men, as well as the ship's cat and dog were rescued by the passing vessel Three Friends, which was smuggling guns to Cuba.Florida Department of State. (2006, October 16). Lofthus. https://web.archive.org/web/20061016225109/http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/underwater/preserves/uwlofthus.cfm. The ship, however, was declared a loss as it could not be removed from the shallow reef. The cargo, primarily lumber, was salvaged and brought ashore by locals and reportedly used to build homes in the Boynton Beach area.Fine, J. C. (2019, June 21). Boynton Beach’s maritime past lives on with Lofthus shipwreck. Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/gateway-gazette/fl-cn-boynton-beach-diving-lofthus-shipwreck-20190626-20190621-kkchdilrbjg5paz5y7gtba6uqy-story.html. Read more on Wikipedia
Source: en.wikipedia.org