The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 70

B18 The Post, Sunday, December 13, 1981 Possible Recovery of Pinta Threatened David G. Ilirsowitz, D.D.S. Ntw York Tlnwt NEW YORK On a shallow coral reef in a relatively little-known group in the Bahama chain called the Turks and Caicos Islands, lies a shipwreck that many now believe could be that of the Pinta, one of the three ships that sailed with Columbus in 1492. But in the heated jockeying among scientists and treasure hunters who want rights to the wreck, it appears the historical value of the wreck itself may be threatened because the loca tion of the site has become widely known. The Pinta, which was once believed to have disappeared from history after the first voyage led by Columbus, actually may have foundered eight years later on Molasses Reef, part of the West Caicos Bank in the waters of the British crown colony, according to material unearthed in the Spanish archives.

Olin Frick and John Gasque, the two treasure hunters who discovered the wreck in 1976, say records show the Pinta was part of a four-boat fleet that announces the opening of his office for the practice of Orthodontics at 1309 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach Florida 33401 (305) 659-7660 ONE OF A KIND SPECIALTY SHOP We're New in 1981 PLENTY OF INVENTOI LOADS OF BARGAINS i COME SEE US left Spam for the New World in 1499. While the ships were anchored off the Caicos Islands in 1500, a hurricane struck, causing two to founder. The other two returned to Spain. In March 1980, Frick and Gasque returned to the reef and discovered what they believe to be the wreck of the Frailia, the second ship that sank. Until last summer, only Frick knew the site and was working on verification.

Since then, for reasons not made publicly clear, he has lost his Turks and Caicos contract to excavate and others have learned of the site. Now that the race is on to see who will wind up with what could be one of the most significant underwater ar-cheological finds so far, there is concern that the wreck may be tampered with or even destroyed before its true him when a contract would be in hand so he could go ahead with the work. Meanwhile, Dr. Desautels and her group continue to voice anger over their inability to pursue the Pinta, contending they knew its whereabouts' before the institute did1 and, in fact, provided the information that would eventually make it possible for Bass' group to locate the site. The object of this intense rivalry appears as a pile of ballast rock covered with coral on the ocean floor 30 feet below the surface.

It originally was spotted by Gasque while he and Frick were searching the area for wrecks five years ago. Frick and Gasque removed two early cannons that first trip. Later they returned and removed two cannon-balls, which turned out to be solid lead. This dated the wreck before 1550, after which iron and lead were used AilUnm Nomina We Offer You: 'I Unique Arrangements ana tpeciany nems CUSTOM DECORATED TREES Wreaths Lights 'Garlands 'Tree decorations together in the manufacture of can-nonballs. Frick stumbled across another piece of the puzzle while observing the island group from the 70-foot-high crow's nest of his salvage ship.

What he saw was "seven little humps, the high points on the islands, in a crescent shape on the horizon." Later he found a reference to such a crescent while reading an account of the voyage by Vincente Pinzon, who belonged to one of the wealthy shipbuilding families in Spain and had been the captain of Columbus's Nina in 1492. In a journal recording a later trip, Pinzon referred to anchoring his four-boat fleet off an area known as the "Bajos de Babulaca," or dangerous shallow waters, on the "seven islands of the Baneque north of Haiti." "Pinzon wrote he could see seven islands in a crescent shape from his mast, and that's when I said to John, 'we've got Frick said. Concerning the authenticity of the Frailia, Gasque said the lead fittings from this site matched the type of lead in artifacts removed from the wreck believed to be the Pinta. The ballast stone also is similar. It is irregular, not smooth in shape, and experts believe this type of stone came from southern Spain from where the early ships left the country, he said.

"All I want to do is get in the water and salvage the ships. I can't believe this is happening," Gasque said of losing the contract. In the view of Dr. Desautels, the political situation in the islands is "too explosive" for them to continue, "and that is related to the fact that we're talking about treasure seekers and gold and silver. "It's greed," she said.

"But if it was strictly up to the archeologists there wouldn't be a program to benefit the islands either, because they don't have the funds to do this." s. Also the makings for creative do-it-yourselfers kipw cuiPAAPKiT i iKii ii iai trffs EAST FROM MARTIN MALL' TO 2216 Santa's Workshop SE Indian STUART OPEN DAILY 10-5 SUN 987.A141 archeological significance can be determined. "Possibly the local people will attempt salvage, thinking anything they get off it will be worth millions of dollars, not knowing it has to be proven first. And everything you bring up has to be properly preserved or it's not worth anything," said Dr. Nancy De-sautels.

An archeologist from Santa Ana, Dr. Desautels said she and Roger Miklos, her treasure-hunting partner, and their 20-man team were chased out of Turks and Caicos waters last week after charges against them were filed by a representative of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, a nonprofit group affiliated with Texas University and an influential archeological organization. Among other things, the institute charged the team had been on a site claimed by the institute. Team members countered that they had permission to be where they were and intended to continue the fight. In another development, Frick and Gasque, whose firm Caribbean Ventures is in Key West, said last week they and their backers intend to file a $100 million suit against the institute for damages to their program to salvage the wreck.

The two men have been negotiating with businessmen for books, films and even computer games based on their expedition. They assert that the institute maligned their ability to handle the job professionally- Dr. George Bass, president of the institute, will not discuss specifics of the case because of the legal fight, but he unhesitatingly expressed his qualms about letting professional treasure hunters excavate valuable historical wrecks. All three groups contend they have valid contracts with the Turks and Caicos administration. In a recent telephone interview, Stanford Missick, the minister of Economic Develop--ment, said Caribbean Ventures' contract had been terminated.

He expressed some displeasure at the length of time the job had taken so far. He said the salvage contract for the site believed to be the Pinta was to be given to the institute but was not yet drawn up. Bass said last week that he had reached an oral agreement with the authorities. But it was unclear to Specifics Gifts Decorative Accessories PUT A COLLEGE IN YOUR HOME Quick as a cricket PALM BEACH JUNIOR COLLEGE we II wrap up all your Christmas shopping with a unique gift selection for everyone on the Open every night 'til 8:30 Friday. Dec.

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