CSL Regina

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Career

Name:	C.S.L. Regina
Owner:	Canada Steamship Lines Inc.
Port of Registry:	Canada
Builder:	Dumbarton Scotland by A. McMillian & Son
Launched:	1907
Maiden voyage:	January 19, 1907
Fate:	Capsized and sank between November 9 and November 10, 1913 after being severely damaged during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
Status:	Located in the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve
General characteristics
Type:	Package Freighter or Canaler
Tonnage:	1200 gross tons
Length:	249 ft 3 in (76.0 m)
Beam:	42 ft 6 in (13.0 m)
Installed power:	Two Scottish Boiler Steam turbines
Propulsion:	Single Screw
Speed:	8 knots
Crew:	32

The CSL Regina was a steel canaler built for the Canadian Steamship Lines Incorporated home ported in Montreal, Quebec. Named after Regina, Saskatchewan, the Regina had a gross tonnage of 1200 tons and could hold a maximum of approximately 32 passengers. The ship sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 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.

1 History
- 1.1 Sinking
  - 1.1.1 Debate Over Sinking
2 Aftermath
3 Discovery & Salvage
4 References

[edit] 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 Incorporated.^[1] 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 fury of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.

[edit] Sinking

On November 9, 1913 the Regina was heading north of Sombra, Ontario During the night one of the worst storms in history appeared. The Regina made it to Point Aux Barqes, Michigan when the winds reached approximately 90 mph and waves up to 50 feet. 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 treachorous. The Regina began heading south towards Port Huron, Michigan. Around Harbor Beach, Michigan the Regina hit a shoal. Taking on water, the Regina decided to anchor approximately 7 miles east of Lexington, Michigan. All power was shut down and the ship was evacuated with exception to the captain. He remained aboard. After the evacuation a distress whistle was sounded which was heard from Lexington, Michigan. Finally, within 35 minutes of anchoring the Regina capsized and sank taking the captain to the bottom of Lake Huron.

[edit] Debate Over Sinking

Some historians believe that the Reginia impacted the Charles S. Price, another ship sunk in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. The idea for this theory resulted from a large 200 foot gash appearing on the side of the ship. It should be noted that, when recovered, some of the bodies of the Reginia's crewmembers were wearing lifebelts of the Charles S. Price and vice versa. ^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

For full details read Great Lakes Storm of 1913

After the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 there was a total of 12 ships sunk in the storm and there was confusion on determining where the shipwrecks were located. The following day of the storm, November 10, 1913 a vessel was discovered floating upside-down on Lake Huron within sight of the Huronia Beach and the St. Clair River. Originally, people assumed this vessel was the Regina which had been a ship lost the previous day, but however, they were incorrect. The vessel sank, and it was not until early Saturday morning, November 15, that it was finally identified as the Charles S. Price. The front page of that day's Port Huron Times-Herald extra edition read, "BOAT IS PRICE — DIVER IS BAKER — SECRET KNOWN."^[3]

[edit] Discovery & Salvage

The wreck of the Regina was found in 1986 in Lake Huron between Lexington and Port Sanilac, Michigan.^[4] The wreck is largely intact but is upside down and in about 77-80 feet of water. It was discovered by commercial diver Wayne Brusate while testing a new sonar device. During a 1987 archaeological salvage expedition led by underwater archaeologist and shipwreck expert E. Lee Spence, tens of thousands of artifacts, including hundreds of intact bottles of still potable Scotch and Champagne were recovered.^[5]