Posted by Jim Jarecki on February 07, 1999 at 17:32:52:
The mystery object in the Chicago River that was featured 2 weeks ago in the Chicago Tribune, as well as on CNN, WGN, FOX, and CBS, has been identified. The Chicago Tribune will run the article on Monday, Feb. 8th. The object which is a 31' long, 10' wide, football shaped wooden vessel, was a prototype for a semi-amphibious bulk fuel-oil transport tank. The idea was to tow this tank behind troop ships on trans Atlantic journeys. This prototype, designed and built by Michael Tym, was tested by the Navy in Lake Michigan on Nov. 25th, 1942. Although the test received good reviews, it was abandoned and eventually sank and was forgotten in the Turning Basin at the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. This spring, at the request of the Illinois DNR, the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago will relocate this vessel to a protected / diver friendly location in Lake Michigan. This move is necessary because reconstruction of the Turning Basin would destroy this object if it were left in its present location. The new location will be buoyed and scuba divers will be encouraged to visit this one of a kind oddity. Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions as to the origin of this object. We received over 250 messages from as far away as Alaska and Florida and just about everywhere in between. Please visit our web site at www.businessform.com/uaschome.htm We should have images of this up in a couple weeks.
-Jim Jarecki