Restless sea reclaims Truro wreckage

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Turbulent seas have reclaimed the wreckage of an unknown vessel that had washed up recently on a Cape Cod beach and intrigued beachcombers with its obviously antiquated construction, a National Park Service official said.

The wreckage, a section of timbers and planking that was about 40 feet long, was found last week just south of Ballston Beach in Truro in the Cape Cod National Seashore. It had disappeared when a ranger went out to inspect it last night, said Sue Moynihan, chief of interpretation and cultural resources at the park.

"As of last evening, it was gone," Moynihan said. "A little glimpse of history pops up and it was gone again."

Officials said Tuesday after looking at photos of the wreckage that it appeared to be similar to the debris that washed up in January 2008 at Newcomb Hollow in Wellfleet and that was sucked back into the sea in April. The Wellfleet debris came from an unnamed schooner-turned-barge from the late 19th century.