CHAPTER 525
FORMERLY
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6
DIRECTING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO COMMEMORATE THE CATASTROPHIC SHIPWRECK OF THE FAITHFUL STEWARD, OFF OF DELAWARE SEASHORE STATE PARK BY THE ERECTION OF A STATE HISTORICAL MARKER ON THE DUNES OVERLOOKING THE SITE, ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1985, THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WRECK,
WHEREAS, the Faithful Steward's grounding and sinking on September 2, 1785 is one of Delaware's most famous maritime tragedies: and
WHEREAS, over two hundred Irish Immigrants and seamen lost their lives that day In the surf near Indian River Inlet; and
WHEREAS, the Faithful Steward's large consignment of coinage bound for the Americas, as well as the life's savings of the hundreds of immigrants have since washed ashore by the thousands and is commonly believed to be the source of the many remarkable finds made on Delaware's "Coin Beach": and
WHEREAS, the Delaware Seashore State Park in the vicinity of the wrecksite of The Faithful Steward has been one of the most productive coin beaches in North America; and
WHEREAS, the two hundredth anniversary of The Faithful Steward's catastrophic sinking will fall on Labor Day, September 2, 1985: and
WHEREAS, Labor Day is traditionally reserved to honor persons such as the Irish immigrants whose labor was so instrumental in the growth of this State and this nation.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the. Senate of the 133rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House and Representatives and the Governor concurring therein, that the Director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs commemorate the tragic loss of The Faithful Steward and the ill-fated immigrants aboard her, as well as her legacy, the Delaware Coin Beach, by the erection of a State Historical Marker on the Delaware Seashore State Park dunes overlooking the wrecksite.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such dedication take place on September 2, 1985, the two hundredth anniversary of the wreck of The Faithful Steward.
Approved July 4, 1985.