A728 - Conception Island

Unknown

h16" x w12"

P

Conception island is, today, an important sanctuary for an enormous variety of birds, fish, turtles and coral. It is a rookery for nesting seabirds and hatching site for green turtles. The Island is uninhabited and protected as a Bahamas National Land and Sea Park and is favored as a location for passing yachts and cruising vessels looking for an overnight anchorage off the island's north west coast.

 

This survey of the island shows the location of fresh water wells and, apparently, some fortification on the island. It is undated and unattributed but the shipwrecks marked on the chart are unquestionably those of the the British frigate H. M. S. Southampton of 32 guns which was Captained by Sir James Lucas Yeo, and that of the 14 gun American Brig, 'Vixen' which she had in tow. Both ships went down on the reef on the 27th November 1812.

 

Of particular note is that the margins of this little chart contains the Longitude and Latitude of the wreck - something which has been a well guarded secret for a number of years, not least for the preservation of the wrecks and the coral. Fortunately(?) the accurtacy of the co-ordinates is a different question.

 

A full account of this incident may be may be read at Lippold Hake's excellent account of his dive on the wreck Southampton & Vixen Also, well worth reading is the account of the capture of the vixen and the subsequent treatment of its crew, included at the end of the article. It is remarkable story of comerardary and respect amongst British and American sailors, despite being at war.

Conception Island