Saturday, October 10, 2009

PASSION FOR UNRAVELING THE PAST


The Cuban young archaeologist Yamilé of the Carmen Luguera González is focused in doing research in subaqueous contexts and littorals. She tells us some details about her studies related to the Sánchez Barcaíztegui, a ship that played the lead in one of the most frightening wrecks of the XIX century in Cuba


By Pavel Lopez


Yamilé likes to have the past clear. To this specialist from the Archaeology Department, belonging to the Study of Sea Bed Direction in the SERMAR S.A. company, is mandatory to throw some light on those zones of the Cuban history that still remain in the shades.

Whether analysing the cultural evidences that Cuban waters contains, or devoting to the meticulous study of the pieces collected in archaeological campaigns, the purpose of this concientious scientist is always the same: to retrace the treads left by the human beings after their brief passage on Earth and unravel their secrets.

Yamilé´s day can begin whether in the Preservation and Restoration Laboratory, or the Exhibition Hall and Warehouse of Evidences, or in the open sea, on board of some of the yachts used to do research. This kind of transportation allow her to get to sites of archaeological interest, and also guarantee the transfer of the found pieces to dry land (sometimes they have great size and weight). In any of these spaces Yamilé claims to feel “completely at home”: Each day makes me sure that I was born for this”, she asserts.

Somos Jóvenes´ reporters surprised her just when she was working in a huge piece of artillery of almost two meters in length: a Krupp cannon, made in Germany, that belonged to the Sánchez Barcaíztegui, a warning ship used as a warship, that was sunk in the Bay of Havana in 1895. In those years, the public opinion was shocked due to this naval catastrophe´s magnitude, and it appeared in the pages of the most famous newspapers.
The research around this ship kept Yamilé busy for many months, although the effort was worth the problem. Nowadays, the accumulated knowledge, along with the contact with a very large collection of objects extracted from flotsam, makes possible to her to revive the events as she was actually looking at them.

The research
In the 50s the archaeological works began on the Barcaíztegui, that is about 24 meters of depth. Several institutions excavated in the zone of the sinking, and at the moment there are some pieces in several places of Cuba, like the Naval Museum of Cienfuegos, the Historical Military Park Morro-Cabaña, the Anthropology Institute, or our own organization, for example.

When I did my research I had access to infinity of sources: documents, articles, photos, engravings of that time and radio programs, among many others. Many people have worked on this subject, but from the point of view of the accident. Nobody had been dedicated to reconstruct the history of the ship, that was what drew my attention. Iin Cuba there´s not much information about it. Almost all the files are in Spain, because the Spaniards took them when they retired from here.
The ship
The history of the Barcaíztegui is very rich. It was a military boat built by order in France for the Spanish Navy in 1876. Two years later it was assigned to Havana, where it fulfilled important missions. In fact, it was the one that went to receive Eulalia de Borbón, member of the Spanish royal family, when she visited Cuba.

The Barcaíztegui received her with 21 salvo cannon shots, and escorted the cruise she came, the Reina Maria Cristina. Later, she visited the Barcaíztegui, because at that time it was a curiosity because of its excessive luxury, unusual for a military boat.
The ship was named after Captain Victoriano Sánchez Barcaíztegui, general commander of the North Fleet, killed in action in 1875 during the Carlist wars.
The accident
The wreck was very commented, because it happened at 11 p.m. at the Bay entrance, almost before everyone. Thirty one members of the crew were eaten by sharks and that was what people recalled, because it was in the press of the time.

There are several theories about the causes of the catastrophe: some comment that the Barcaíztegui was leaving the Bay in the dark, chasing a Cuban revolutionary expedition, just when the merchant ship Mortera was entering. Others affirm that the Barcaíztegui remained accidentally without light and, by error, someone ordained to change the course, which caused both boats to collide.

The most accurate version is the second one, since by these months there wans´t any Cuban revolutionary expedition. The first one was after the shipwreck, in the Eastern zone of Cuba. Nowadays, the rear admiral of the Spanish Navy assigned to the port of Havana, on board the Barcaíztegui, is the only one who is buried in the Colón Cemetery, in a tomb located at the entrance and belonging to the Counts of Mortera.

The collection
At the moment, the pieces extracted from the flotsam and kept in SERMAR tells us a very clear vision about life on board. Among them there are tools like hammers, tweezers; a large quantity of medical instruments, this is one of the most interesting collections we have. Flaks, her bottles can be found, jars of ointment, thermometers, hypodermic syringes and, even, we found a tapeworm perfectly preserved in formol.
We also have collected a sample of inkpots, lamps, bottles, objects, personal belongings, cosmetic bottles, perfumes, a doll´s head (a very peculiar thing in a military boat), armaments and navigation instruments. In short, it is one of the most complete collections about life on board a ship that exists in Cuba.

Somos Jóvenes magazine says bye to Yamilé, a young scientist who has still many stories to discover:

The number of flotsams to study is big (…) and each found piece is a rich source of knowledge. With each of them a degree thesis could be realised”. By the sight, its thirst by ignoto is insatiable or, at least, it does not seem to forget the lessons the men of science preceded who it, like that one Isaac Newton who a day expressed: What we know it is a drop of water; what we ignored is the ocean.

1 comment:

Carlos C. said...

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to the beautiful Cuba and met Yamile del Carmen Luguera. She is a beautiful and intelligent young archaeologists that love what she do and live each moment of its career as it is the last. She is an excellent example of success, determination and passion for its country history; it is a model to follow for all the young little cuban boys and girls. It was a real pleasure meet this young professional and more than a fellow speleologist I now consider her a true friend.