Latest news with #JohnTaylor
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Newmarket fire station honours legacy of former chief Sam Rippey
On Thurs., July 17, 2025, Central York Fire Services hosted a ceremony to name Station 4-1 Sam Rippey Fire Station in honour of the late Newmarket Fire Chief. Pictured left to right; Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh, Councillor Kelly Broome (Chair of the Joint Council Committee), Mayor John Taylor, Kelly Palmer (Sam Rippey's daughter), Councillor Christina Bisanz and Central York Fire Services Chief Rocco Volpe.
ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
Boy, 14, riding off-road motorbike dies in crash with car in Sheffield
A 14-year-old boy riding an off-road motorbike has died in a crash with a car in Sheffield. The teenager was on a Stomp Juice 110 bike which crashed with a Ford Mondeo on Tunwell Avenue in the Parson Cross area of the city at 6.14pm on Monday. A police officer who was on patrol in the area at the time was on the scene within minutes after he was flagged down by a member of the public. He provided first aid to the boy ,who was taken to hospital where he later died. The driver of the car, a 30-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and traffic offences. Sgt John Taylor from South Yorkshire Police said: "We understand that any fatal collision can have a shocking effect on our communities, and especially those involving a child. "We are in the early stages of our investigation to ascertain the circumstances, but we urge that you do not speculate on social media or share anything that can prejudice our inquiry. "Local neighbourhood officers will be in the area today to speak to anyone with concerns." Police said the family of the boy was being supported by specialist officers.
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- News.com.au
Pirate shipwreck may hold key to fate of $210 million in treasure
A pirate shipwreck discovered off the coast of Madagascar may hold the key to the fate of $A210 million in treasure. Researchers from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation have published a new study into the identity and contents of a wreck in a small bay on the remote island of Nosy Boraha (Ile Sante-Marie). This was once a hide-out of the famous 18th-century pirates Olivier Levasseur (La Buse) and John Taylor. They now believe the remains of a ship discovered there in the 1990s is that of the Portuguese treasure galleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo, which was seized while carrying a cargo home from India in 1721. Lead researcher Brandon Clifford says it was one of the richest pirate plunders in history. Aboard the galleon was a royal fortune in gold and pearls, and a hoard of holy artefacts. And among its passengers were a Portuguese royal viceroy, the Archbishop of Goa and 200 slaves. The viceroy was only released after a steep ransom was paid by the Portuguese government. The fate of the Archbishop and slaves is lost to history. As is that of much of the treasure. But the ship itself was repaired, rearmed and rebuilt into Levasseur's flagship. Levasseur, nicknamed La Buse (The Buzzard), soon after retired to Nosy Boraha (Ile Sante-Marie). He gave up piracy. But he refused to surrender his treasure. Eventually, in 1729, he was recognised and arrested. Legend says the famous French pirate told his gaoler: 'With what I've hidden not far from here, I could buy the entire island'. 'Find my treasure he who can!' he shouted as he threw an encrypted document into the crowd while being led to the gallows. Attempts to decipher what is alleged to be this cryptogram have thus far been unsuccessful. Under the weather The Cabo was initially built as a 72-gun Dutch man-of-war. Later, it was repurposed as a heavily armed Portuguese treasure galleon. But, in April 1721, the ship's luck ran out. It encountered a severe storm as it headed for the Cape of Good Hope, marking the transition of the Indian Ocean to the South Atlantic. It had departed the port of Goa on India's southwest en route to Lisbon, Portugal, only weeks earlier. But accounts from the time suggest heavy weather had toppled its masts. And its crew had tossed many of its heavy cannons overboard in an effort to keep the ship afloat. Their efforts were successful. The Cabo found refuge at Reunion Island. There, many of the crew went ashore to cut wood for repairs. But, on the morning of April 20, two sets of sails appeared on the horizon. They belonged to pirates Levasseur and Taylor. The galleon was in no state for an effective fight. The Cabo was seized after a brief exchange of shots. It was then taken in tow. The ship, its crew and passengers were taken to Îlot Madame, near the Nosy Boraha (Île Sainte-Marie) settlement off Madagascar's east coast. There, the loot could be safely divided and stored. 'Gold and silver bars, coins, silks, religious artefacts, and an extraordinary array of precious stones (110 diamonds, 250 emeralds, 20 rubies, 20 sapphires) are recorded as having been taken from the ship's cargo,' the study, titled From Goa to Sainte-Marie: An Archaeological Case for the Identification of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, reads. 'The pirates divided the treasure among themselves, with Levasseur reportedly taking the famed Flaming Cross of Goa, a massive gold artefact encrusted with precious stones that took three men to carry,' the study states. But untangling myth from legend, and legend from history, will be necessary before any such trove is discovered. The fate of the Cabo is part of that story. She was to be Levasseur's final flagship. After being repaired, modified, and rearmed, Levasseur renamed the galleon Victorieux (meaning 'Victorious'). And her final resting place has been a matter of debate for centuries. X marks the spot? 'Our interpretation of the site as the Cabo … overturns contradictory narratives about the fate of the vessel,' the researchers write. 'For example, one account reports how the ship was wrecked at Cape Amber. Rather, our investigations align with competing recollections that (indicate) the vessel was eventually abandoned, and likely partially burned, at Sainte-Marie.' The Historic Shipwreck group has been exploring wrecks that sat under the guns of a small fort the pirates had built to protect their provisions, spares, and loot. Geophysical scans, side-scan sonar imaging and seabed investigations have so far identified several closely clustered wrecks in the shallows. Île Sainte-Marie was a stronghold of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650 to 1725). Among its most notable occupants were Henry Avery, William Kidd, and Olivier Levasseur. Up to 10 wrecks are believed to be in the surrounding waters. One wreck, measuring 30m by 10m (the same as an 18th Century Portuguese galleon), has been found to contain Chinese porcelain, ivory and timber carvings, 13 gold coins, cowrie shells and nutmeg. What makes this wreck significant, the researchers add, is the number of religious objects found there. These include a Madonna statue, an ivory statuette of Jesus, and a piece of ivory marked INRI (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), a traditional top piece to large crucifixes. Is this from the fabled 'Flaming Cross of Goa'? 'Primary records cast doubt on the existence of such an artefact, but documentary evidence does suggest the Viceroy of Goa aboard the vessel did possess a golden cross, most likely hanging on a necklace,' the study argues. But its presence is, however, significant. 'These devotional artefacts, often carried by high-ranking clergy or nobility, strongly align with the undisputed historical accounts that the Nossa Senhora do Cabo was transporting the former Viceroy of Goa and the Archbishop at the time of capture,' the study states. 'The presence of artefacts bearing Catholic iconography, unique among known pirate vessels in the region, suggests that this was not a typical pirate ship but rather a vessel captured by pirates. This distinction is crucial, as it situates the wreck not merely as a pirate-operated craft, but as a seized prize, temporarily operated or scuttled by figures such as Olivier Levasseur and John Taylor.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History
Archaeologists say they have discovered a legendary pirate shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar. The findings were announced in a research article by Brandon A. Clifford and Mark R. Agostini of the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation in Massachusetts. "This study presents archaeological evidence supporting the identification of a unique 18th-century shipwreck at Îlot Madame, off the coast of Sainte-Marie Island, Madagascar, as the Nossa Senhora do Cabo, a Portuguese treasure ship captured by pirates Olivier Levasseur (La Buse) and John Taylor in 1721," they wrote. Levasseur was "a French buccaneer colloquially known as La Buse or 'The Buzzard' for his swift and predatory tactics, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the captivating history of piracy," Discovery Channel UK notes. According to the Golden Age of Piracy, the capture of the Nostra Senora della Cabo was a famed heist that saw the two pirates "capture a massive Portuguese treasure ship sailing out of the city of Goa. The massive 700-ton ship was carrying the Bishop of Goa, also known as the Patriarch of the East Indies along with the retiring Viceroy of Portugal. They were both returning to Lisbon with all of their wealth and artifacts when the ship was damaged in a storm." What's the evidence? "Artifacts recovered from the site include exported Chinese porcelain, religious artifacts of Goan origin, coinage, cowrie shells, and construction materials consistent with Portuguese East Indian design," the researchers wrote. "The archaeological assemblage recovered from the site corresponds with historical descriptions of the Cabo's cargo, route, and subsequent refit and final renaming by La Buse as the Victorieux." Their findings are rewriting history. "Our interpretation of the site as the Cabo, supported by archaeological evidence and historical accounts, overturns contradictory narratives about the fate of the vessel. For example, one account reports how the ship was wrecked at Cape Amber," they wrote. "Rather, our investigations align with competing recollections that instead the vessel was eventually abandoned, and likely partially burned, at Sainte-Marie. Broadly, this archaeological case study presents novel insights into piracy, global trade, and colonial power in the western Indian Ocean," they added. The area was a haven for pirates. le Sainte-Marie, located off the northeast coast of Madagascar, "occupies a central place in the maritime history of the western Indian Ocean. Its natural harbor, relatively protected from monsoon systems and regional currents, made it a strategic node for both legitimate trade and illicit maritime activity during the 17th and 18th centuries," they wrote. "Although the island had been known to Arab mariners since at least the 12th century, it was not until the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (1650–1725 CE) that Sainte-Marie emerged as a significant base of operations for European pirates, including figures such as Henry Avery, William Kidd, Christopher Condent, and Olivier Levasseur." Archaeologists Say They've Found a Legendary Pirate Ship, Rewriting History first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 11, 2025
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic ‘80s band makes surprise appearance at pop star's UK show
Legendary '80s band Duran Duran joined pop star Sabrina Carpenter for a surprise performance at her recent concert. Carpenter brought out Duran Duran to perform the band's 1982 hit 'Hungry Like the Wolf' during her show at London's BST Hyde Park on Sunday night, July 6. 'I also thought it might be fun if I brought out some friends of mine from the U.K.,' Carpenter told the crowd, per Billboard. She then had the crowd howl for her before saying, 'I'm going to need you guys to put that howling to good use.' 'Everybody please give it up and make so much noise for the legendary Duran Duran,' Carpenter said. It was then that frontman Simon Le Bon and bassist John Taylor joined Carpenter on stage. Le Bon sang lead with as Carpenter joined in with harmonies and later singing the second verse. 'My new favorite artist bringing on stage my all time favorite song?? I would have lost my mind,' one YouTube user said about the performance. 'So happy to see Sabrina recognizing and honoring legendary artists like Duran Duran in their home country,' another user commented. The special appearance capped off Carpenter's two-night Hyde Park stint. The shows were part of the pop star's ongoing 'Short n' Sweet World Tour.' She's set to headline Chicago's Lollapalooza on Aug. 3 before embarking on the second North American leg of the tour, which will go through November. Rock band reinvites Trump voters to shows after getting death threats Famous rock singer responds after booed at historic farewell concert Groundbreaking punk band plays final live show in Amsterdam Influential '90s rock band loses member after 27 years: 'We wish him well' '60s pop icon 'feeling much better' after hospitalized with 'extreme pain' Read the original article on MassLive.
