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The Endless Search for the HMS Hussar
In November of 1780 HMS Hussar was swept onto Pot Rock in the treacherous passage known as Hell Gate in New York’s East River. She sank shortly thereafter off the shore of the Bronx. The widow of the pilot aboard the Hussar would later tell the story that her husband had told her that iron chests and barrels loaded with specie worth several million dollars, to pay troops in Rhode Island, had been loading aboard the Hussar just before she sailed. Thus set off a treasure hunt that has lasted over two hundred years.
Robert Apuzo, author of The Endless Search for the HMS Hussar , has extensively researched the quest for treasure on the Hussar, collecting a remarkable set of newspaper accounts, letters, journals and even stock offerings related to the ship. He lets the original documents speak for themselves, supported by drawings, maps and photographs. The book begins with the accounts of the sinking of the frigate in 1780 and ends with an New York Post article from 1985. In the intervening pages, Apuzo captures the hopes, the enthusiasm, the ingenuity and just possibly the madness of those seeking treasure from the Hussar since she sank in the turbulent waters two centuries ago. It makes for a fascinating read.
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10 Responses to “The Endless Search for the HMS Hussar”
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As a very proud Bronx resident, I really enjoyed reading about Robert Apuzzo’s book The Endless Search for the HMS Hussar. New York is extremely rich in historic treasures, and most people lose sight of that because the city is always changing its face even as its “basic bones” remain. I love the lore of the Bronx—people forget how much history took place in this borough, and books like this keep this history alive. Thanks for opening up my eyes to it.
As a very proud Bronx resident, I really enjoyed reading about Robert Apuzzo’s book The Endless Search for the HMS Hussar. New York is extremely rich in historic treasures, and most people lose sight of that because the city is always changing its face even as its “basic bones” remain. I love the lore of the Bronx—people forget how much history took place in this borough, and books like this keep this history alive. Thanks for opening up my eyes to it.
A belated welcome to the bog. Bob Apuzo has done a wonderful job bringing the story to life by using the original texts. Glad you enjoyed reading about it.
I have not had the opportunity to read your book although many of my team read it and said that it was good but like the other authors far from the actually truth.
You like others have followed what others have done and then put it into writing. I applaud you for your dedication but you’re missing an important point….The Hussar was not a payroll ship as you say it is….of course you didn’t do the research that we all did but had you done that then i wouldn’t be the president of HMS Hussar, INc….and would’ve not discovered the resting place of the wreck. Had you actually went to the rare books room of the NYPL, Portsmouth Museum in Greenwich, London, Admiral Pole Museum in Windsor,UK, met with the former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Went to Gardiners Island and searched the archives there, sat down with Robert Ballard, and i forgot…found the spy reports at another nyc library that said what the real mission of the hussar was, then you’d have a true book of the HMS Hussar….
also the diagrams of the ship you need to take out of your book as some of those pictures are owned by my company HMS Hussar, Inc. which we bought the rights from the UK….
Thank you
Joseph Governali
ps. good luck on the book
The book was excellent. Mr. Governali should explain his position to the Spanish kid in the South Bronx who was swimming off the shore and retrieveing gold coins.He told us he had been doing it for a few years now.
Thank you for your comments Mr. Giovernali.Your first sentence says it all. If you had purchased a copy of the book you would have not said, that I say, the HMS Hussar was a payroll ship. I never state that in my book. That comment was by Rick Spilman,(This is his blog) who took that from one of the many articles contained in the book.
Second Mr. Governali you say, that I used one of your diagrams, well wrong again there are no such drawings/diagrams of the HMS HUSSAR included in the book. On page 12 is a one inch illustration of a British frigate taken from a old book on ships. The other illustrations included in the book, are taken from the Public Library and Queens Library. You do not own illustrations/drawing of 18th century ships/frigates as those are considered in the Public Domain. Thats like saying, you re invented the wheel. I advise you to contact a copyright lawyer if you have any questions.
You are not the only person to have a passion about the HMS Hussar. My good friends, The late John McNamara and Artie Seifert and myself have been collecting data on the Hussar before you were born, as I am closeing in on 70. I have also been a resident of the South Bronx all of my life.(not far from the remains of the Hussar)
I congradulate you on sitting down with Sir Tony Blair, Robert Ballard, and Jimmy Sinclaire. Of the three I have only met Jimmy, and we discussed the Hussar at great length.
I would look foward to any future publication you may be working on concerning the HMS Hussar, and your excellent research adventures. You may consider useing my prior books as dateing reference guides “New York City’s BURIED PAST” A Guide To Excavated New York City’s Revolutionary War Artifacts 1776-1783. Also “Bottles Of Old New York” A Pictorial Guide To Early New York City Bottles 1680-1925. ( My next book will have pictures of British 18th Century, White Clif of Dover ballast. They also used pig iron and Carribean coral, as I am sure you are aware of )
I do recall chatting with some of your team and they are a great bunch of guys.
I do want to thank you for your comments, even if I do not agree with them. In the future I would advise you, to at least thumb thru a book before you pass judgement.
Best of luck in your future projects.
Robert Apuzzo
Thanks for your comments Robert. I agree that Mr. Giovernali should have read your book before critiquing it. It would have good if he had read the review, as well.
The review, which was fairly brief, never referred to the Huzzar as a “payroll ship.” What I did write was: “The widow of the pilot aboard the Hussar would later tell the story that her husband had told her that iron chests and barrels loaded with specie worth several million dollars, to pay troops in Rhode Island, had been loading aboard the Hussar just before she sailed. Thus set off a treasure hunt that has lasted over two hundred years.”
Part of the charm of the story is that there is no actual documentary evidence of there ever being gold aboard the ship. All we really have is, in this case, literally, an old wives tale. the
[...] sunken British frigate rumored to be carrying gold to pay the troops? Sounds a lot like the HMS Hussar which sunk in New York in 1780. This more recent discovery is the British storeship Prince, [...]
It’s funny to hear that some spanish kid is swimming in hell gate picking up gold coins and no one has heard of it….i’m sure that the entire nyc press would love the opportunity to meet this kid and especially me….i’d hire him as one of my divers…
2ndly i’m in direct contact with all of the major antique dealers in NYS with express orders that if any gold soverign’s should pass their way dated 1777 from the uk that i should be contacted immediately….
unless of course that this spanish kid who’s probably poor living in the south bronx is just collecting these coins and doesnt realize their worth…or perhaps it’s just a part of mr. valenti’s vivid imgination….in any case as for Mr. Apuzzo’s book i did have the chance to read it and found it good…
take care and God speed
Joe Governali
Robert, just remember this my friend, garvin signed a non-disclosure agreement which stretches to everyone aboard the vessel including you…since you were there that day that i hired garvin to dive the hussar and it’s documented.