Couple finds world's oldest message in a bottle
A 132-year-old message in a bottle was found on a West Australian beach. The message, written in German, is believed to have been part of an experiment by the German Naval Observatory to better understand global ocean currents.
Kym and Tonya Illman were enjoying an ordinary stroll on the beach at Wedge Island in West Australia. Tonya, noticing a beautiful piece of glass, picked up a bottle that was buried in the sand. Tonya had hoped to use the bottle as an interesting piece of decor in her home. But she and her husband soon realised that there was more to the bottle.
Remarkably, inside the bottle was a note. They took the bottle back home, dried the note, and proceeded with trying to decipher it. Kym was able to use his basic German language skills to get the gist of the note.
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The message was about how the bottle had been thrown overboard as part of an experiment by the German Naval Observatory
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-06/oldest-known-message-in-a-bottle-found-on-wa-beach/9518632
. Whoever was to find the note was instructed to provide their coordinates, which could later be used to map out and understand global ocean currents.
Experts at the Western Australia Museum have reason to believe that the note was on the ship Paula, which set sail in 1886.
There is no word yet on whether Kym and Tonya will be getting any financial benefit from this incredibly lucky find.
Observers on social media have mentioned that this could possibly be a scam set up by people claiming to be royalty so that they can extract money from the naive people who pick up the 'ancient bottles':
It says: Hello Sir! I am the King of Nigeria and seek your help with ONE THOUSAND POUNDS in escrow with Lloyds!
— Dr. J. Phipps (@blinkingabyss) March 6, 2018