European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 06, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Amsterdam museum by Brian Smith staff writer the year 1749 had just begun when the Amsterdam h t Mil on its Maiden voyage As part of the dutch East India company s Quot Winter fleet.�?�. Three times a year the Veren Igde oof a Dische -. Compagnie Ane of the mightiest commercial. Organizations Ever sent its ships swarming out from the. Harbours of the Netherlands. Laden with Trade goods and Silver Bullion the destination was the ear East with its lucrative Trade in Silks and spices,.lacquers and porcelain. I his time the Fleet sailed straight info a series of storms. Trapped for Many Days just North of the English Channel unable to make port the Crew of they. Amsterdam started to fall ill probably of typhus poorly fed Elined together be6 w decks and exhausted by the raging winds the sailors dropped like flies. More than 50 of the 300-Man Crew died still within sight of he dutch coast. As if this were not enough the great three master was blown toward the English Shore where it lost its massive rudder. With a Drunken and mutinous Crew the ship was driven aground on sunday the 26th of january. The signal cannons of the Amsterdam attracted crowds from the churches of nearby Hastings. Though the storm continued at Low tide the locals were Able to help the surviving Crew anti passengers to land. Then they started themselves. Local officials were almost powerless to Stop the plundering but the Captain Willem Klump was Able to organize the Rescue 27 of 23 chests of. Silver eventually a company of militia showed up and after one cil the looters had been shot the ship was left to the a mercy of the continuing storm. /. While representatives of the ship s owners wrangled How if to save the ship the Hulk itself continued to sink into the Sand. Eventually the upper decks were a smashed by pounding Waves and the Stern of the ship. Disappeared into the Sand. I Laving returned to Amsterdam Captain Klump . Trouble getting another ship. The Easl Thida company was pleased at the Rescue of nearly 7,0 j pounds of a a a a Silver. Nothing further was said of the disease the Mutiny the wreck. Within months he had a new. Command. V ,. 7over the centuries the outline s of the Hull were exposed a few tithes during extremely Low tides i one attempt to ship dynamited but Little was recovered. The Amsterdam rested prac tic ally. Forgotten until it was attacked by treasure Hunters in the. Lilc 1970s. A a a t a alarmed by destruction caused by the use of. Mechanical equipment authorities stopped in and a started scientific excavations initial exploration in 1934-ti9 showed that a Large part of the Hull was still intact if a full excavation Ever takes place archaeologist to find very Little treasure but a wealth of information still embedded within the ship s remains. A. Though Ari attempt to attract dwt b. Funding for an excavation tailed by coincidence tiie City of Amsterdam was working on plans to build a full scale replica a of the doomed ship the keel was Laid in 1035 and crags men previously unemployed started work on the Hull. The ship was launched in 1000 and towed to a permanent berth by he maritime museum where flt it of months the continuing fitting pro idea a living workshop in old handicrafts fancy work was finished As were the massive figurehead masts and rigging. On april Josh the birthday of i Beatrix he replica was opened to the Public. Kids of All Ages and Clow n the narrow stairs and the three Mast Amsterdam catches the eyes of passers by in the Harbor and on the Shore. Wondered at the Low ceilings of even he Quot luxury a Quot pirate choir Quot serenaded the visitors while Sailmaker demonstrated their Craft and Young Ai tors dressed As 1 7lh-Century seamen toted buckets and lifted Bale s Lor the Benet it of a local television Crew i i nigh the Axel age visit to the Amsterdam Mav not he sri vent Lul admission to tile ship is included in the to Ket Tor the maritime Sabeen car i museum. Located on the water Roll not the Central train station the most us is finished in us Ltd the Duff h , \. Built m i<3 re in -.-e. Ltd a tin it 1 it a fact Eric i 1 i he a. Quot a t it Cue. Are ads Fekn it a a a. R. Fri p it api ured one a Quot v i a a is 1 in his a. ,.r a dts 1 i.>. A a a i a -. C i it 10 stripes Magazine june 6, 19 1
