La Belle (ship)

Design drawing of La Belle

The La Belle (English: "the beautiful" ) was a historic sailing ship with three masts.

She belonged to an expedition of the explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, the French settlement of Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay in present-day Texas founded in 1685. In an expedition along the coast in the following year were 37 crew members of the ship, including her captain Richaud, killed by Indians. In February 1686 La Belle sank in a storm in the Matagorda Bay. Six survivors reached Fort St. Louis three months later in canoes. The loss of the ship meant the end of the colony, since it was cut off the connection to the outside world. La Salle was in an attempt to get help, killed, Fort St. Louis was captured in winter 1688/1689 by Indians.

Wreck

In June and July 1995 led scientists to the " Texas Historical Commission " in the Matagorda Bay by searching for shipwrecks. The La Belle was the most important archeological site which was discovered on this occasion. After positive results of a preliminary study and the unique identification of the vessel by a cannon led the " Texas Historical Commission ," 1996, a complete excavation by. Since the wreck was in only a few meters deep water, the reference could be drained by a cofferdam. The wreck remains were embedded in mud, in which the artifacts were preserved perfectly.

In the excavation a large amount of equipment and part of the cargo was found, for example, three cannons, muskets, ropes, ceramics and trade goods that were obviously intended for trading with Indians. These included bells, rings, bronze pins and glass beads. Very good condition was also the lower part of the ship; Barrels with trade goods were still in their places in the hold. Were also discovered skeletal remains of victims of the shipwreck. In total, more than a million objects have been recovered. An exhibition of the finds of La Belle will be shown in the new Texas State History Museum in Austin. Due to its historical significance and the great wealth Fund, the La Belle is now regarded as one of the most important shipwrecks in North America. The search for the simultaneous decline in the flagship La Salles, the L' Aimable has until now been unsuccessful.