Hamilton & Scourge - Frozen in Time Traditional Cache
Bon Echo: Decided not to replace.
Hamilton & Scourge - Frozen in Time
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A series of geocaches placed in memory of two American schooners lost at sea during the War of 1812. This was the largest loss of life on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812.
The geocache in located within Confederation Park, and placement has been authorized by the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
This is one of a 5-part series related to the Hamilton and Scourge shipwrecks, and the War of 1812 Naval Memorial. Collected clues from the first three caches to determine the location of the bonus cache. Note that finding this traditional cache is not required for the bonus cache.
#1 - Hamilton & Scourge - 1812 Naval Memorial Garden (Multi-cache)
#2 - Hamilton & Scourge - Ned Myers' Account (Puzzle / Mystery Cache)
#3 - Hamilton & Scourge - Archeological Treasure Hunt (Letterbox Hybrid)
Each cache of the four cache will have a letter and one or two numbers recorded under the lid. For example:
H-7 or S-89.
Bonus Cache: - Hamilton & Scourge - Cleared For Action (Puzzle / Mystery Cache). Visit the listing for more details.
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The cache is a small plastic tube and contains only a logsheet. Please bring a pen and replace as found.
The Hamilton and Scourge are two large wooden schooners. Neither ship was designed for war, instead being used as transport ships on the Great Lakes prior to the war. They were “obtained” by the US Navy and retrofitted. Those changes may or may not have contributed to their loss on August 8, 1813.
It would be 160 years before the ships would be located, and several more years until they were properly examined. All indications suggest the ships have been well preserved due to depth and temperatures.
Plans to raise and restore the ship were soon being discussed. From what I have read, there may even have been discussions about restoring the lost ships and placing them on display here in Confederation Park.
Considering the fact the ships have been preserved so well during the 160 years between when they sank and when they were found, it seems that the best place for them is to remain where they are. However, a more recent survey of the wrecks by Parks Canada staff in 2008 revealed a new threat to the ship - colonization by quagga mussels.
Will the ships be raised one day? Or will they be preserved in-place? We’ll see.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
4-5 srrg bss gur tebhaq, arne gehax, fvqr bs gerr pybfrfg gb gur sbbgoevqtr