Article 13

American archaeologists and divers from the French Navy have recovered the bell that was attached to the foremast of the Confederate Commerce raider CSS Alabama. The brass bell was found in the vicinity of the ship's galley and was still attached to the ornate brass bracket that was bolted to the mast. Although no engraving is visible, the 14-inch diameter, 13-inch high bell is still covered with concreted sediment that has accumulated in the 138 years that the bell has been on the bottom. The bell will be shipped to the Charleston Laboratory that is currently conserving the remains of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley.

   Tomorrow, divers will return to the site and attempt to recover the Alabama's galley stove. The iron stove was located immediately forward of the foremast and now lies partially exposed in the wreckage. Diving on the wreck will end on 21 June and in July a US Navy remote operated vehicle will be used to collect high resolution digital photographs of the wreck site that will be used to assemble a mosaic of the CSS Alabama's remains.