By Seaman H.R. No. 371 75R8973 JTR-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Lone Star State's colorful history has long 1-2 fascinated historians around the world, and a remarkable chapter in 1-3 the state's past has been reopened with the successful excavation 1-4 of French explorer Robert La Salle's ship La Belle from Matagorda 1-5 Bay; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Sunk in 1686 during Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur de La 1-7 Salle's ill-fated second expedition to the New World, La Belle lay 1-8 undiscovered for centuries, until in the 1960s rumors of the 1-9 wreck's existence began to circulate among local fishermen; a 1-10 bronze cannon was said to have been found in the area, and in 1968, 1-11 shrimpers Robert L. Holcomb and Linda Lewis of Port O'Connor found 1-12 French grenades that appeared to have come from the lost ship; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Any lingering doubts as to the veracity of these 1-14 stories was laid to rest in 1995, when the craft's watery resting 1-15 place became the site of a full-scale excavation and the focus of 1-16 excited attention from around the world; among the archaeological 1-17 treasures salvaged from the wreck were three 800-pound bronze 1-18 cannons, pewter plates and cups, pottery, jewelry, and the skeleton 1-19 of one of the ship's ill-fated passengers; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Cognizant of the site's great scientific and 1-21 historical importance, Calhoun County residents eagerly joined the 1-22 recovery effort, and the management and staff of King Fisher Marine 1-23 Services donated both the use of their equipment and many hours of 1-24 their time to the successful discovery and retrieval of the first 2-1 cannon to be removed from the wreckage; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Unlocking the secrets of the 17th-century ship 2-3 necessitated the use of 20th-century technology, and credit for the 2-4 project's success must also go to Port Lavaca's G&W Engineers, 2-5 designers of the innovative watertight cofferdam structure that 2-6 allowed archaeologists access to the site; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Elected officials from the area have united in an 2-8 effort to create a permanent historical display of articles 2-9 recovered from La Belle, to be located in this county, which was 2-10 the site of La Salle's first landing on the Texas coast; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Texans are well known for the pride they take in 2-12 their rich historical legacy, and the citizens of Calhoun County 2-13 are no exception; their talents and participation have made 2-14 possible the reclamation of this unique piece of the state's past, 2-15 and their efforts will ensure that future generations will have the 2-16 opportunity to relive the formative years of the Lone Star State; 2-17 now, therefore, be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-19 Legislature hereby honor the residents of Calhoun County for their 2-20 efforts in locating and reclaiming Robert La Salle's 2-21 ship La Belle and commend them for the active role they have played 2-22 in the preservation of this fascinating chapter of Texas history.