CSL Regina
Encyclopedia
The SS Regina was a steel canaler
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
built for the Canada Steamship Lines
CP Ships
CP Ships was a large Canadian container shipping company, prior to being taken over by Hapag Lloyd in late 2005. CP Ships had its head office in the City of Westminster in London and later in the City Place Gatwick development on the property of London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex.The...
and home ported in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Named after Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, the Regina had a tonnage
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
of and a crew of 32.
The ship sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913
Great Lakes Storm of 1913
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, historically referred to as the "Big Blow", "Jeff Kinsland's Wash," the "Freshwater Fury" or the "White Hurricane", was a blizzard with hurricane-force winds that devastated the Great Lakes Basin in the Midwestern United States and the Canadian province of Ontario...
after taking great damage. Lost for more than a half century, it became known as the "Great Mystery of the Great Storm of the Great Lakes". Since found, it has become an active dive site for scuba divers and is now part of Michigan's underwater park system.
History
In 1907, the Regina was built in Dumbarton, Scotland by A. McMillian & Son. The order was placed by C.H.F. Plummer of Montreal, Quebec. In 1911 ownership was transferred to the Canadian Lake Transportation Company and in 1912 it was transferred to the Canadian Steamship Lines IncorporatedCP Ships
CP Ships was a large Canadian container shipping company, prior to being taken over by Hapag Lloyd in late 2005. CP Ships had its head office in the City of Westminster in London and later in the City Place Gatwick development on the property of London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex.The...
.
The early years of the Regina are clouded and contains little recorded information. There was little interest for the ship until 1913, when it was caught in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913
Great Lakes Storm of 1913
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, historically referred to as the "Big Blow", "Jeff Kinsland's Wash," the "Freshwater Fury" or the "White Hurricane", was a blizzard with hurricane-force winds that devastated the Great Lakes Basin in the Midwestern United States and the Canadian province of Ontario...
.
Sinking
On November 9, 1913 the Regina was heading north of Sombra, OntarioSt. Clair, Ontario
St. Clair is a township in southwestern Ontario, Canada, immediately south of Sarnia in Lambton County, along the eastern shores of the St. Clair River.- Communities :...
. During the night one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history arose. The Regina made it to Point Aux Barqes, Michigan when the winds reached approximately 90 mi/h and waves ranged up to 50 feet (15.2 m). Due to the stress, the ship made an 8-minute turn. Since the Regina was top-heavy with a load of sewer pipes, the turn became much more treacherous.
The Regina began heading south towards Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. Around Harbor Beach, Michigan
Harbor Beach, Michigan
Harbor Beach is a city in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,837 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 1,587 in 2009.-Geography:...
the Regina hit a shoal. As the vessel was taking on water, the crew decided to anchor approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) east of Lexington, Michigan
Lexington, Michigan
Lexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.-Geography:...
. All power was shut down and the ship was evacuated with the exception of the captain.
After the evacuation a distress whistle was sounded which was heard from Lexington, Michigan
Lexington, Michigan
Lexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.-Geography:...
. Within 35 minutes of anchoring the Regina capsized and sank, taking the captain to the bottom of Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. Near Port Franks, Ontario
Port Franks, Ontario
Port Franks is a small Southern Ontario community in the municipality of Lambton Shores, Lambton County in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located along Kings Highway 21 near Pinery Provincial Park, about north of Thedford, Ontario...
, two bodies were found with a capsized lifeboat from Regina and another 10 bodies were found on the beach a short distance away. Apparently, there were no survivors from Regina.
Sailors initially theorized that the Regina collided with the Charles S. Price, another ship sunk in the storm, as some of the bodies of the Charles S. Prices crewmen were wearing lifebelts from the Regina. However, this theory was dismissed after the Charles S. Price was found on the bottom of Lake Huron; a diver confirmed that the ship was the Price and that the ship showed no signs of being in a collision.
Aftermath
Twelve ships foundered in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913Great Lakes Storm of 1913
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913, historically referred to as the "Big Blow", "Jeff Kinsland's Wash," the "Freshwater Fury" or the "White Hurricane", was a blizzard with hurricane-force winds that devastated the Great Lakes Basin in the Midwestern United States and the Canadian province of Ontario...
and there was confusion in determining where the shipwrecks were located. The day following the storm, November 10, 1913 a huge steel freighter was floating bottom side up, the bow about thirty feet clear of the water but the stern dipping down until it was impossible to tell the length of the carrier. Every visible part of the hulk was coated with ice and there were no identifying marks in view. Originally, people assumed this vessel was the Regina which had been lost the previous day. It was not until early Saturday morning, November 15, that the ship was identified as the Charles S. Price, shortly before it sank on November 17th. The front page of that day's Port Huron Times-Herald extra edition read, "BOAT IS PRICE — DIVER IS BAKER — SECRET KNOWN."
Discovery & Salvage
The wreck of the Regina was discovered in 1986 in Lake HuronLake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
between Lexington and Port Sanilac, Michigan. The wreck is largely intact but is upside down and in about 77–80 feet of water. It was discovered by commercial divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
Garry Biniecki Wayne Brusate and Colette Witherspoon while testing a new sonar device. During a 1987 archaeological salvage expedition led by underwater archaeologist and shipwreck expert E. Lee Spence
E. Lee Spence
Edward Lee Spence is a pioneer in underwater archaeology who studies shipwrecks and sunken treasure. He is also a published editor and author of non-fiction reference books; a magazine editor , and magazine publisher ; and a...
, tens of thousands of artifacts, including hundreds of intact bottles of still potable Scotch
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
and Champagne were recovered.