Chicago
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Diving Lake Michigan
Chicago’s Underwater Secrets
By
Barbra Annino
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There are dozens of
shipwrecks hidden beneath
the waters of Chicago's Lake Michigan. |
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The land-locked Midwest
may not enjoy the vast beauty of the oceans, but Lake Michigan is as mysterious
and dangerous as any deep sea. She has proven her power many times over,
snatching vessels from the tips of waves and carrying them to her belly, forever
claiming the crew and cargo as her own.
Wreckage from steamers,
schooners, tugboats, barges and even a plane rest near the shoreline that
stretches from Evanston to Lake Forrest, Illinois, just a skip from Chicago.
Many are still intact, thanks to the kindness of the fresh water, and can be
viewed on a diving expedition.
The Lady Elgin is probably
the largest ship the lake has taken. Called the “Titanic” of the Great Lakes,
the steamship perished with more than 300 lives on board near Waukegan in 1860.
One of the worst tragedies of the Great Lakes, she was
returning from a political campaign in Milwaukee carrying members of Milwaukee’s
Union Guard. On the way, the Lady Elgin collided with the Augusta, a wooden
schooner that lost control and slammed into the Lady Elgin port side, after the
wind accelerated to gale force.
Augusta was attempting to
slide next to Lady Elgin, in hopes to receive assistance in the windy waters.
Her hull was breached, but the smaller ship assumed they had taken the bigger
hit. The Augusta continued on toward Chicago, while the crew of Lady Elgin
attempted to patch her, to no avail.
The storm raged through
her core, and she sank. Some passengers swam to shore, only to be overpowered by
the surf. Some were saved, but most were lost to the lake.
The Material Service Barge
is another maritime wreck. Popular because it is close to the shore and easy to
reach, this vessel sank in 1936 intact and is one of the most complete wrecks of
the North Shore. Her demise was investigated, but the cause of sinking was
never proven.
Some say the boat cracked
apart on the Calumet Shoals, others contend that her cargo hatches were left
open, causing the area to flood. The truth lies with the 15 crewmen who fell to
a watery grave.
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An aerial view of
Chicago |
A side-wheel steamboat
named the Seabird is another victim of Lake Michigan. Apparently in 1868, an
exhausted porter was discarding hot coals by tossing them overboard from the
upper deck. A northeasterly wind blew the ashes back on the lower deck where
straw and varnish tubs caught fire.
The flames consumed the
lifeboats, and frantic attempts to head toward shore were in vain. Those aboard
succumbed to the blistering heat or the frosty waters. Three passengers survived
by hanging onto floating debris and rescued by nearby schooners.
Many diving companies
offer tours of these shipwrecks. Whether you’re a neophyte or an old pro,
trained professionals will guide the way to the hidden treasures and historical
disasters entombed in the bed of Chicago’s Great Lake.
For further reading on
maritime history, look to
Chicago's North Shore Shipwrecks,
by Mark S. Braun
If You Go
Dive into Lake Michigan
and discover these shipwrecks for yourself. The following are full service dive
sites that offer training and equipment rentals:
Chicago Dive Charters, Inc
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Burnham Harbor, IL
Capt. Hank Fiene
312-842-1480
www.chicagodivecharter.com/
Discovery Dive Charters, Inc.
Burnham Harbor, IL
Capt. Tim Woolsey
815-786-1337
www.discoverydivecharters.com
Shipwreck
Adventures Inc.
Winthrop Harbor, IL
Capt. Dennis Lasswell /
Captain Greg Such
815-378-8152
www.shipwreckadventures.com/
Great Lakes
Explorer
Burnham Harbor, IL
Capt. Bob Schak
312-922-5090
www.divechicago.com
Want to learn more about
Chicago, check out
A
Weekend in Chicago
