Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Newest book on Baja (Even DK doesn't have, yet!)
Just attended a book launching party of Ed Vernon's newest book "A Maritime History of Baja California". It's 310 pages, hard cover, 240 color
photos, 12 full page maps and sat views. Most folks know about Ed's "Las Misiones Antiguas" that has been a fantastic book on the Baja missions, well
this one covers all the early Spanish explorers through miners and real estate speculators. Ed's well researched book covers a historical perspective
of the well known and little known ports of the Baja we know today. More info is available on http://www.bajacaliforniamissions.com/.
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
sounds fascinating...I loved hearing the stories from the fishermen here who tell about the steamers that serviced the coast and later the lobster
buyer ships that came and brought all the groceries, mail etc., the ships that came here to buy guano from the islands...this area is very rich in
maritime history dating back to pirate days.
Is there anything about the big steamship that sank at san roque island in that book??
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
OH MAN!!! I GOTTA HAVE IT!!!
Sounds great... Last time I was communicating with Ed on the missions, he mentioned his project... But, I hadn't heard anything about a final
publishing until now!
Thanks Jack!
|
|
|
Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
Shari...I can't answer your question as the only copy I have is shrinkwrapped and deeply packed as we are leaving for Baja (La Paz) next week for 5
months or so. I hope to read it "on location" in the next few weeks. I do know that it has a bibliography and index that includes names of
ships/wrecks. One photo I remember is of a Japanese submarine scuttled on the Pacific side. Probably David can answer the question soon!!
You need to appreciate the photo of the Pemex plant and ship in La Paz that I took from an ultralight last year. It lost power on its next flight and
had a "hard" landing in the water, nobody hurt.
|
|
|
Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
|
|
Jack, it will undoubtadly be in the book but there was a steemer that went all the way up the Colorado to a place just below what is now Las Vegas.
When I fished and boated just below Hoover dam I marvelled at the winch pins one could see in the canyon walls -- they ran their hawsers thru these
big metal eyes to winch the ships up the rapids. It was carrying goods from San Francisco to Arizona but some local riff raff told them the customer's
warehouses burned down. They believed the lie, sold all the goods to the lieing pirates at dimes on the dollar.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Jack Swords
Shari...I can't answer your question as the only copy I have is shrinkwrapped and deeply packed as we are leaving for Baja (La Paz) next week for 5
months or so. I hope to read it "on location" in the next few weeks. I do know that it has a bibliography and index that includes names of
ships/wrecks. One photo I remember is of a Japanese submarine scuttled on the Pacific side.
Probably David can answer the question soon!!
|
The one Baja book every Baja adventure seeker must have, is full of shipwreck data... and I looked there first:
OKAY: From The Baja Adventure Book by Walt Peterson, Third Edition (1998), page 165:
"Due to a small navigation error on August 8, 1921, Captain J.C. Zastrow provided future skin divers with an interesting wreck off the island (San
Roque):
The steamer 'San Jose' can be found south of its southeast tip, her booms, winches, plates, and ribs scattered over a wide area at depths up to 30
feet.
Another wreck lies on the sand bottom east of the island. Originally about 70 feet long, she lies in 40 feet of water. When over the wreck, the
aid-to-navigation tower on the island will bear 230º, and the central and largest islet among the small group to the southeast 126º."
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19935
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
tall tales for DK to clarify
" | Quote: | Originally posted by Jack Swords
One photo I remember is of a Japanese submarine scuttled on the Pacific side. Probably David can answer the question soon!!"
Tall tales?? some internet fact or fictions???
With a name like rufus, it's got to be true!!
"Night of the Yaqui Moon." The essay, by Jane Pattie, is based on a story former Texas Ranger Rufus Van Zandt told.
Van Zandt spent a lot of time hunting bears and big cats in Mexico and became friends with the fierce Yaqui Indians, a tribe the Mexican government
had tried its best to exterminate.
When the war began, the U.S. government asked Van Zandt to keep his eyes and ears open for Japanese or German activity south of the border. He did,
and found a considerable Japanese presence on the west coast of Mexico.
Eventually, according to Van Zandt, he participated in a raid by Yaqui Indians on a clandestine Japanese submarine refueling point on the Pacific side
of Baja California. He said a submarine and two trawlers were sunk and a fair amount of Japanese were killed. A short time later, Mexico declared war
against the Axis powers. The inference is that Mexico had been playing footsy with Japan and Germany prior to the time of the raid, but that, fearing
an American invasion, it decided to throw in the with the Allies.
Whether all this is true or just another war story is open to further scholarship, but it makes a heck of a read. |
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
thanks David...sounds like the wreck we snorkel...it is about 100' and starts on the beach and goes out into about 30' and snorkeling you can see some
of the big stack and bits and peices...pretty darn cool with lots of nice fishies living in her.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
thanks David...sounds like the wreck we snorkel...it is about 100' and starts on the beach and goes out into about 30' and snorkeling you can see some
of the big stack and bits and peices...pretty darn cool with lots of nice fishies living in her. |
Cool... please post photos if you have any...
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19935
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
" | Quote: | Originally posted by Jack Swords
One photo I remember is of a Japanese submarine scuttled on the Pacific side. Probably David can answer the question soon!!"
Tall tales?? some internet fact or fictions???
With a name like rufus, it's got to be true!!
"Night of the Yaqui Moon." The essay, by Jane Pattie, is based on a story former Texas Ranger Rufus Van Zandt told.
Van Zandt spent a lot of time hunting bears and big cats in Mexico and became friends with the fierce Yaqui Indians, a tribe the Mexican government
had tried its best to exterminate.
When the war began, the U.S. government asked Van Zandt to keep his eyes and ears open for Japanese or German activity south of the border. He did,
and found a considerable Japanese presence on the west coast of Mexico.
Eventually, according to Van Zandt, he participated in a raid by Yaqui Indians on a clandestine Japanese submarine refueling point on the Pacific side
of Baja California. He said a submarine and two trawlers were sunk and a fair amount of Japanese were killed. A short time later, Mexico declared war
against the Axis powers. The inference is that Mexico had been playing footsy with Japan and Germany prior to the time of the raid, but that, fearing
an American invasion, it decided to throw in the with the Allies.
Whether all this is true or just another war story is open to further scholarship, but it makes a heck of a read. |
Mis-quoted/ out of context as usual...
The 'question' that Jack said I could answer was about the San Roque shipwrecks... and I did.
The Japanese submarine is a photo that Jack remembered...
Please try harder goat... maybe one of these days your facts will be non-fiction.
[Edited on 11-22-2009 by David K] |
it's your assignment DK. it told you it may be fact or fiction, and figured you would sleuth it...
oh well, tally ho old chap!! |
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Maybe another time amigo... It is a beautiful day outside, and I am going to get off this PC and enjoy it now!
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
Jeeezo....100,000 posts between the two of you and you can't get the quote boxes right.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65287
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Off Ed Vernon's web page for the new book... sounds like a real winner!:
A Maritime History of Baja California
by Edward W. Vernon
Preface: Rodney J. Taylor, PhD, Professor of English and historic nautical artifact collector
A Maritime History describes the most important harbors and anchorages of the Baja California peninsula by charts, maps, satellite imagery and photos.
The history of each of those places is developed by recording, in chronological order, the most important ships to have touched that anchorage. The
visits in the 1500s by Spanish explorers including Ulloa, Cortés and Cabrillo, as well as assaults by pirates all contribute to the rich history of
the peninsula. The entradas of the mission ships, otter hunters and whalers are also described. The ships of the U.S. Navy and their assaults on San
José del Cabo, La Paz, and Mulegé are recorded.
The “Concessions” to American and British companies and their influence on maritime trade is an important part of the story as is the era of the Gold
Rush Steamers. The history of each harbor is brought up-to-date with photos and information on the many U.S. military ships including the “Great White
Fleet” to call at these ports. The impact of the fishing industry, yachts, sportfishers, and cruise ships on the peninsular waters, ports, and cities
brings the book into the modern era.
Published: November, 2009
Size: 8-1/2 x 11 inches, 310 pages
Illustrations: 240 color photos, 6 line drawings, 12 full page maps and satellite views, 19 full page ship photos and drawings
Format: Hard cover, cloth bound
ISBN 978-0-578-03668-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009935825
List price: $49.95
|
|
|
rockman
Junior Nomad
Posts: 97
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Port Hadlock, WA & Loreto BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
A US Navy submarine, the H-1, grounded and sunk off Isla Margarita in 1920.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
