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Author Topic: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?  (Read 13104 times)

Terry Roth

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Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« on: March 25, 2012, 08:20:16 PM »

Accounts of the SS Norwich shipwreck/survival/rescue are quite accurate - they were on the island for 3 days but had plenty of water (13 days worth in the lifeboat), food plus more that was delivered from the rescue ship.  They had set up a survivor camp not far from the wreck itself.

The rescue effort was quite treacherous, taking only 3 men at a time on the transfer boat over the course of 2 days.  The last of the men left the water and food on the island.

If Earhart was there 8 years later, she would have definitely checked out the shipwreck..if anything, just to see what she could use to survive.  She would have most definitely taken whatever food and water she could find ...and perhaps any equipment.

Was the survivor camp easy to spot?  Has anyone taken inventory of that camp to see if things like the food and/or water in the lifeboats was picked clean?

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Jeff Victor Hayden

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Re: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2012, 08:40:23 PM »

There's been a lot of people on Niku since the Norwich City went aground Terry so I wouldn't be surprised if the survivor camp was discovered and utilised but, finding out by whom would be a challenge.
This must be the place
 
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Terry Roth

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Re: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2012, 09:11:34 PM »

There was a photo taken in 1938 of this camp shown here http://tighar.org/wiki/Norwich_City_Survivors%27_Shelter
taken by the New Zealand Aviation expedition.  It would be interesting if there was any written observations about what was found at this site in 1938 (the closest to the Earhart presence).

It would be interesting to know if any food and/or water in the tank was found at that time.  If this site was visible from the shore, wouldn't Earhart (and Noonan) have checked it out?
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Jeff Victor Hayden

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Re: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2012, 03:21:25 AM »

Interesting point repeated throughout that article regarding the surf and breakers preventing any safe rescue of the stranded sailors. Even the native islanders were wary of the conditions. Full marks to the crews of both vessels for succeeding though and, having the foresight of leaving a stash of supplies just in case some other poor souls found themselves in a similar situation. They must have regarded Gardner Island as rather inhospitable
This must be the place
 
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Terry Roth

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Re: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2012, 08:17:35 AM »

Well, no one knows the physical condition of Amelia and Fred when they arrived on the island.  But for sure, they needed water, food and shelter (since sleeping on the bare ground must have been next to impossible with those crabs).  Assuming that they KNEW a shipwreck was there on the island, would they not think it worth taking a look to see what they could scrounge around for items they could use to survive.

What I am getting at is that perhaps they also spent some time there at the Norwich survivor site.  Although that area must have been visited and even picked through over the years, it might be worth exploring as well when the expedition goes out there in July.
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Martin X. Moleski, SJ

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Re: Has anyone taken inventory of the SS Norwich survivor camp?
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2012, 08:34:00 AM »

What I am getting at is that perhaps they also spent some time there at the Norwich survivor site.  Although that area must have been visited and even picked through over the years, it might be worth exploring as well when the expedition goes out there in July.

TIGHAR has been over that terrain many times.

We do not have exact coordinates for it.

No one marked it on a map that has yet come to light.

The British and the natives presumably took what they wanted and burned or sank the rest.

Some on EPAC have expressed a desire to find "camp zero," the first place where AE and FN presumably would have stayed until the plane was no longer accessible.  It's a nice idea, but I'm not sure that any signature pieces would have survived the 25 years of traffic from the colony.
LTM,

           Marty
           TIGHAR #2359A
 
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