Researchers have discovered a “magnificently preserved” shipwreck from 1894 in Lake Huron near the US state of Michigan. The Ironton has been found hundreds of feet below the icy surface, confirming a tale by the only two survivors about why the other sailors who boarded the vessel’s lifeboat still perished.
The Ironton was a two-masted schooner that had been carrying iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Cleveland, Ohio, when it encountered a fierce storm on November 29, 1894. The crew of nine were forced to abandon ship and board the lifeboat, but only two of them survived.
The two survivors told a story of how the lifeboat had been swamped by waves and capsized, leading to the deaths of the other seven sailors. The wreck of the Ironton was thought to have been lost forever until it was discovered by a team of researchers from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.
Using sonar and underwater robots, the team located the Ironton hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. The shipwreck was found in remarkably good condition, with its masts and rigging still intact. The researchers believe that the cold temperatures and lack of oxygen in the lake have helped to preserve the vessel.
The discovery of the Ironton confirms the story told by the two survivors, and provides a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by sailors in the Great Lakes region. The researchers are now working to document and protect the wreck site, so that it can be shared with future generations.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has made an incredible discovery in Lake Huron near Michigan: the magnificently preserved wreck of the Ironton, a two-masted schooner that sank in 1894. The ship was found hundreds of feet below the icy surface, confirming a tale by two survivors about why seven other sailors who boarded the vessel’s lifeboat perished.
The Ironton had been carrying iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Cleveland, Ohio, when it encountered a fierce storm on November 29, 1894. The crew of nine was forced to abandon ship and board the lifeboat, but only two of them survived. The two survivors told a story of how the lifeboat had been swamped by waves and capsized, leading to the deaths of the other seven sailors.
Using sonar and underwater robots, the team from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society located the Ironton hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. The shipwreck was found in remarkably good condition, with its masts and rigging still intact. The researchers believe that the cold temperatures and lack of oxygen in the lake have helped to preserve the vessel.
The discovery of the Ironton confirms the story told by the two survivors, and provides a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by sailors in the Great Lakes region. The researchers are now working to document and protect the wreck site, so that it can be shared with future generations. This is an incredible find that will help us to better understand our maritime history and appreciate how far we have come in terms of safety at sea.