Release: MONDAY January 27, 2020
For almost 100 years, no one knew the name of Wallace Hartley. Back in 1912, he was all but lost to history. That was the year the Republic of China was founded, Arizona became our 48th state, and the ocean liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic killing 1,517 passengers and crew. Hartley was one of those who died. But, he wasn’t a passenger....
We probably wouldn’t be talking about Hartley today if it weren’t for a curious resident of London. In 2006, that Londoner was doing what so many do – sorting through clutter and pitching family possessions. In the attic he ran across a beat-up old leather bag with the initials “W.H.H.” Inside was a distressed violin – weathered, water-damaged and missing some strings.
A small engraving on the instrument offered a clue. It showed the instrument had belonged to Wallace Hartley. More research revealed Hartley had been the bandleader on the Titanic. His small group of musicians played “Nearer My God To Thee” as the ship slipped beneath the frigid waves. Hartley’s body was later retrieved floating with the satchel and violin strapped to his back. That violin recently brought $1.7 million at auction.
It’s scary to imagine how many valuable and/or historic items have been lost to the ages in the name of clearing out clutter. The same might have been true for a water-stained menu from the Titanic. One of those was found floating when rescue ships collected whatever they could find. In 2004, that menu sold for over $100,000.
Another discovery happened some years ago when a woman in the Midwest contacted a friend about a collection of old envelopes her husband had left her. She said a letter and envelope that survived the Hindenburg airship disaster might be in the collection. With only about 100 of those in existence the chances of that were very slim. Nevertheless, the friend decided to check it out.
Her friend tracked down the world’s authority on Hindenburg crash covers, and the investigation began. It extended all the way to Germany where original records in the Lufthansa offices were searched. Lo and behold, the envelope proved to be genuine. That faded and slightly burned item sold for just over $16,000.
In fairness, not all coveted collectibles from the past involve disasters or death. A case in point, locks of hair from the Beatles or Elvis. Fans of early Rock ‘N Roll icons covet most anything connected with them. Actual hair tops the list.
Back in the early 1960s, Elvis’ barber had had an inkling of future fame. With girls screaming and clawing at the singer it was easy to fathom. The barber saved a handful of Elvis’ hair in a plastic bag in a drawer. After the “King” died in 1977, that hunka-hunka locks brought a hair-raising $115,000 from a faithful fan.
That’s chump change compared to a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe. It was the slinky white one she wore in the film, The Seven Year Itch. It was also the one that flew up when her photo was taken over a subway grate in New York. Years ago, actress Debbie Reynolds acquired it as a Hollywood curiosity. In 2011, it was way more than a curiosity when it sold for a whopping $4.6 million.
There’s no question there’s more treasure waiting to be found – some of it in unlikely places. And, unless there’s a lot of curiosity and a little investigation it may get overlooked or, worse, thrown out.
Of course, some is obvious. Such is the case in Florida on the shoreline between the cities of Boca Raton and Vero Beach. That’s near where 11 Spanish ships sank in a massive storm in 1715.
The ships were laden with gold and silver. Over the years, millions of dollars in treasure from them has been recovered. But, there’s more. To this day, after storms, silver and gold coins and even small ingots still wash up onto the beaches. Estimates are that upwards of $400 million still waits to be found. That would make for a nice vacation for anyone.