Shipwreck with White House Plunder

The Halifax Daily News has an interesting article about the wreck of HMS Fantome, which sank carrying loot from the White House in 1814:

He said the Fantome was loaded with loot from the White House, which British troops burned in August 1814. The ship was heading home to Halifax with a convoy when it lost its way in a vicious storm.

With untold treasures, Fantome smashed into shoals and sank off Prospect on Nov. 24, 1814.

The wreck was left undisturbed for political reasons. The event coincided with the end of the war, and the two nations wanted to move on.

"Obviously, this was a very touchy subject at the time, so no one really said any more about it," Chisholm said.

Jagged rocks kept excavators away for nearly 200 years. It's only recently that the technology has allowed anyone to take a look.

Hat tip, again, to SOMNIA.