Wreck discovered after 90 years still arouses admiration - video

In the waters of Lake Huron at a depth of 61 metres, the magnificent wreck of the steamer “Manasoo”, which sank in 1928, has been located and preliminary examined. The discoverers emphasise that the wreck of the vessel, despite the passage of years, is preserved in phenomenal condition, which is simply astonishing. In the course of collecting photographic and video documentation they managed to capture some sensational footage, as can be seen below.

The steamer S/S “Manasoo” sank during a strong storm, on 15 September 1928, in the waters of Georgian Bay, a large and clearly separated bay of Lake Huron, located in the Canadian part of the basin. Sixteen people were killed. Among the survivors was the captain of the vessel, 3 sailors and one passenger, Donald Wallace.

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This is one of the most interesting wrecks I have seen in the land of the Great Lakes. As we dived along the hull, we saw an old car in the opening. It was amazing. It is very rare to see a car on a shipwreck,” said Cris Kohl, a member of the team that located the wreck

The car in question is Wallace’s magnificent, if somewhat mussel-covered, 1927 Chevrolet Coupe. Despite almost a century spent in the icy waters of the lake, the machine is still beautifully presented and probably more than one car fan would see it in his garage, after a visit to the workshop.

As the minutes passed under the water, other wonderful sights appeared before the divers’ eyes. Among them, the majestic steering wheel or lifeboats, which on that unfortunate day could not be reached by most of the passengers. Looking at the video and photos, it is hard not to get the impression that we are dealing with a real time capsule.

Measuring 55 metres long and 7.3 metres wide, the steamer was built in 1888 in the Scottish shipyard of William Hamilton & Co. in Glasgow. At first she sailed under the name S/S “Macassa” and was not particularly distinctive. It was one of thousands of steel constructions that were built in the British Isles at the end of the 19th century.

For 39 years, the steamer traversed the waters of Lake Ontario, running between Toronto and Hamilton. In early 1928, the vessel was purchased by the Owen Sound Transportation Company. The ship’s name was changed to “Manasoo” and the new route was between Manitoulin Island and the city of Sault Ste. Marie.

During the last voyage, in the holds of the S/S “Manasoo”, in addition to Mr Wallace’s Chevrolet, among others, there were 100 head of cattle which he had purchased for his breeding. It is believed that it was the misplacement of the animals that contributed significantly to the sinking of the rather narrow craft. The steamer, battered by waves and stormy weather, began to take on water, increasing her heel with every passing moment…

The full detailed history of the unit S/S “Manasoo” can be read in English in here.