| The SandBox goes British |
EasyNews, UseNet made Ea .. |
| ::darkshadows:: (blood@thirsty.net) |
2008/04/21 17:23 |
Did Sir Francis Drake once claim California for Queen Elizabeth I of
England?
Yes he did, in 1579.
He landed near what is now San Francisco whilst being pursued by the
Spanish.
To evade them he was trying to reach the fabled Northwest Passage,
which early navigators imagined would connect the Pacific with the
Atlantic to the north of Canada. When he landed in California the
Indians warmly welcomed him and his crew. They thought the Englishmen
were gods and offered them their entire country along the California
seaboard.
According to reports of the voyage, Drake graciously accepted the
offer and ordered a brass plate be nailed to a post on the shoreline.
It said that the territory was a dominion of Queen Elizabeth and would
henceforth be known as New Albion.
In 1936 Mr Beryle Shinn, a San Francisco shop assistant, found a dirty
old brass plate whilst enjoying a picnic on the shore north of the
Golden Gate bridge. He took it home thinking it might be useful for
car repairs. He left it in his garage and forgot about it for 8
months.
In 1937 he came across it again and cleaned it with soap and water.
Able to decipher the word 'Drake' he sent it to Dr Herbert Bolton of
the University of California for further study.
Following analysis of the plate a hot debate ensued as some felt it
was an elaborate hoax.
According to contemporary reports, Drake landed in California at a
spot marked by high white cliffs. But there were no cliffs at the
picnic spot where the plate was found. There were also a few technical
issues with the plate, but Dr Bolton was able to establish the plate
could have dated from the right time period. The plate was vindicated
when a chauffeur called William Caldiera came forward. He explained he
had originally discovered the plate 4 years previously, and kept it
for a short while before throwing it away close to where Mr Shinn
found it. He originally found the plate in Drake's Bay, traditionally
thought to be Drake's landing place, and it was an area with tall
white cliffs.
Britain's title deed to California now rests in the University of
California. So far, the British have graciously refused to take up the
option.
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