tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post2025574004349005034..comments2024-01-29T12:10:50.171-06:00Comments on One Dusty Track: Unsolved Mystery of the The Sarah JoeKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02465520316827410421noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-13208143963075826272020-12-31T09:28:01.379-06:002020-12-31T09:28:01.379-06:00The inspection of the island six years before the ...The inspection of the island six years before the discovery is not mentioned here. The thorough inspection by Marshall Island officials detected no wreck or grave.JPM2017https://www.blogger.com/profile/05380337778694936035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-37043951568047771492020-10-26T11:54:09.379-05:002020-10-26T11:54:09.379-05:00Well, the partially burned sheath of paper is call...Well, the partially burned sheath of paper is called Joss paper. It's an ancient Chinese custom still sometimes used today in China and other Asian countries, as a way of veneration to the deceased for their passing into the next life, to help them aquire wealth. <br />It is typically square in shape, with tin-like foil between or on each piece to tissue paper. Then it is partially burned and left in the casket or in the grave. <br />Since Taongi was once occupied by the Japanese and long before that, by other Asian statesmen, it seems very clear to me that Scotts body, or bones as it were, was happened upon by Asian visitors to the island, and they buried him as best they could (under rock/coral rock, as burying the remains in the sand would not have been feasable, nor would weather and storms over time allow for the body to remained buried under shallow sand). They most likely knew the body was that of some Western culture, either by sight of the body (depending upon it's condition upon discovery), or by the hull of the wrecked whaler, inscribed with "HI" and numbers (in English), and knew the boat was from Hawaii, and therefore used both their ancient burial customs (the Joss paper), and the traditional Western/Christian customs (the makeshift cross). Or, the cross could have been made and put there simply to mark the spot, (as opposed to it being erected for the purpose of including Westerm Christianity as part of the burial). Though I think it's the former. <br /><br />Bringing the remains back to whatever native land from whence the Asian visitors came, would not be something they would do, as their cultural and religious beliefs whould dictate that removing a body from it's grave/final resting place, would be disrespectful, and could keep the spirit of the deceased from resting in peace in the afterlife.<br /><br />The boat was obviously caught in the storm, and killed all the men on board, and their bodies lost in the vast open sea. Scott either drifted ashore in the Sarah Jo (dead), or tied to the boat (which is sometimes done by sailors when caught in a dangerous storm), dead. <br />Either way, we know he could not survive the nearly 3+ months it would have taken the Sarah Jo to make it's way to the Taongi Atoll from where the men started out. An impossibility. The shear heat of the sun on a person adrift with virtually no means of protection alone would kill a person in no time, let alone with no drinking water or food (even if they had brought emergency supplies like food and fresh water on board, no way it would be 3+ months worth, especially in that small boat). <br /><br />So, in my opion, it's not really much of a mystery. It seems fairly cut and dry to me. Though I will admit that the circumstance in general (lost at sea, finding the obviously purposely buried remains of one of the men and the boat on a tiny island over 2 thousand miles away a decade later...does give a feeling of unease, intrigue, and just feels a bit creepy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04682422357603429007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-43726106707429696002020-09-29T08:27:22.539-05:002020-09-29T08:27:22.539-05:00A true mysteryA true mysteryMuskyElonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08119849235190548986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-60298395350875444382020-03-11T11:53:57.687-05:002020-03-11T11:53:57.687-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09066025185460001877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-49454645812956726812019-06-16T14:04:16.989-05:002019-06-16T14:04:16.989-05:00May their souls Rest in peace.May their souls Rest in peace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14660863359288474438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753354415097749540.post-48940351914554369932019-06-16T14:03:40.969-05:002019-06-16T14:03:40.969-05:00May their souls Rest in peace.May their souls Rest in peace.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14660863359288474438noreply@blogger.com