Posted by Craig Rich - Michigan Shipwreck Research Associares on June 30, 19102 at 09:49:36:
Saugatuck Shipwreck Remains a Mystery
"Quest For The Chicora" To Continue
(Holland, MI) ----- Recently discovered evidence has led historians and divers with Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates to question the identity of the shipwreck discovered last year off Saugatuck. Underwater video and visits by divers have now opened the door on the possibility that the ship may be may not be the Chicora but another missing vessel -- most likely the H. C. Akeley.
The H. C. Akeley was built by Captain Thomas W. Kirby of Grand Haven at his Mechanics Dry Dock Company in 1881. The vessel foundered on November 13, 1883 taking the lives of six of her crewmembers. The Akeley was bound for Buffalo, New York from Chicago with cargo of corn, when she took the disabled tug "Protector" in tow in a heavy gale. Forced to let the tug go after the Akeley’s rudder broke off, she came to anchor but fell into the troughs of the waves and began to sink. The disabled schooner "Driver" happened by and saved 12 of her crew who had taken to the ship’s yawl just before she went down. Captain Edward Stretch and 5 other crewmembers perished with the ship.
Remote camera work completed last fall showed images that were somewhat consistent with the long-lost Chicora, including a steam whistle, windows, hatches, boiler, hull-construction, and a capstan. Divers Doug Welsch of Fennville and Charles Larsen of Holland, working with MSRA researchers, have seen new evidence that may still suggest the Chicora, however, as more is learned about the H. C. Akeley, the differences between the two ships begin to blur.
The dive team has uncovered evidence that the ship’s engines and boilers may be located further astern than first thought, which would be consistent with a bulk freight steamer like the Akeley, rather than a passenger steamer like the Chicora. In addition, glimpses of large cargo openings on deck also suggest a top loader, rather than a side loader such as the Chicora.
The Akeley was not considered to be a possibility when the wreckage was first discovered as 12 rescued crewmembers stated the vessel slipped beneath the waves "12 to 15 miles off Holland, Michigan", which is approximately 10 to 12 miles from the actual site of the wreckage.
Jan Miller, president of MSRA and the man who worked with NOAA and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory to scientifically develop a search area for the Chicora said today, "If this vessel is the Akeley or another ship, our plans are to continue and complete the high probability area of the search field as defined by our computer modeling. The 2001 search covered only 12 square miles of a 300 square mile target area and the search was halted when this significant shipwreck was discovered. The validation of the identity is still scheduled with the use of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) for mid-August and September with the assistance of NOAA and the University of Michigan with the DNR. Our intention will be to run grid line surveys concurrent to the identification operation to be offered for archaeological interpretation".
MSRA Director and search chairman Valerie van Heest noted, "If it this vessel is the H. C. Akeley, it would certainly be a significant discovery and a ship worthy of study and documentation. Dozens of ships built in Michigan in the mid 1800’s are of similar construction and design. Understanding this shipwreck will aid future efforts to document and preserve Michigan’s historic underwater resources. If this is the Akeley, however, the mystery of the Chicora’s final resting place will still haunt me."
Craig Rich, spokesman for the group said "MSRA plans to continue to study this wreck until a positive identification is established. We will present the findings of this summer’s site work at several multimedia presentations late this year and into 2003." Rich compared the accumulation of data on a deep shipwreck to putting together a jigsaw puzzle, "Only this jigsaw puzzle is over 200 feet long and we are only given 5 or 6 new pieces each week. It takes a long time to obtain conclusive evidence."
Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates received a grant from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation in March and plans to document and preserve the unidentified wreck to determine whether it is the H. C. Akeley, the Chicora or even another ship.
"There is still a possibility that this is the Chicora", said MSRA board member Jack van Heest" and we’ll be disappointed if it isn’t. But, then again, we were just all a little sad when we thought we found her. There’s nothing better than a good mystery. And once a shipwreck is found, some of the mystery disappears."
Whatever the outcome, this group will continue to research, discover, and document shipwrecks in the Great Lakes region. "Eventually, we hope to locate all of the 'ships gone missing' in the area," said Rich, "including the Alpena, Andaste, Michigan, Hennepin, Akeley, Chicora and even the remains of Northwest Flight 2501. Time is on our side and the technology improves each year."
MSRA will present its findings at "SHIPWRECK QUEST 2002" an annual shipwreck film festival in Holland.