The American sailing vessel Adriatic collided with the French steamship Le Lyonnais on November 2, 1856, off the coast of Nantucket in what can best be described as a maritime hit-and-run. Adriatic’s captain, Jonathan Durham, rendered no aid and left the passenger steamship to fend for herself. 114 people died in the collision and in the days that followed.
My guest is shipwreck hunter Jennifer N. Sellitti, author of “The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run off the Coast of Nantucket”. In this episode of Most Notorious, she recounts the tragic tale of the incident and the dramatic efforts by France to bring Captain Durham to justice. She also shares details of her quest to uncover the long-lost wreck of the Le Lyonnais.
Atlantic Wreck Salvage’s website: https://dvtenacious.com/
The author’s publisher page: https://www.schiffermilitary.com/products/the-adriatic-affair
More on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dvtenacious
