Identification and Site Information #
History and Legend #
In the small mining community of Larder Lake, Northern Ontario, a long-standing legend has persisted about a taxi that went through the ice many years ago. No one knew the exact date of the incident, or what the vehicle was hauling, with speculation ranging from gold and payrolls to Christmas bonuses or bootlegging supplies. Despite numerous searches over the decades, the vehicle had remained elusive until recently. Last year, the fabled taxi, a 1929 REO, was finally discovered after having sunk through the ice in 1937.
The dive to reach the taxi took place at a depth of 50 feet, where visibility was extremely low, and no light penetrated the murky waters. The site was challenging due to heavy silt accumulation, which obscured much of the vehicle. While approaching slightly off the mark, the dive team inadvertently stirred up silt around the front of the taxi, further clouding the site. Despite these obstacles, the team confirmed that the vehicle was largely intact, though partially buried under layers of silt accumulated over the past 85 years. The vehicle’s front end was especially difficult to inspect due to the silt disturbance.
There remains much mystery around the vehicle, particularly its cargo. The REO taxi may have been carrying valuable goods, but the exact contents are still unknown due to the heavy sediment and the challenging dive conditions. Further exploration of the site is recommended to uncover more details about the vehicle’s condition and possible cargo.
•Date of Dive: Undisclosed
•Dive Team: Reporting individual
•Conditions: Very low visibility and no light penetration at the depth of 50 feet. The lakebed was heavily silted, making navigation difficult. The front of the vehicle was unintentionally disturbed by the dive team, causing further silt-up.
•Challenges: Silt disturbance around the wreck made detailed inspection difficult. The diver followed the lakebed closely due to poor visibility and accidentally approached slightly off mark, causing silt to rise and obscure the vehicle.
Final Disposition
The taxi remains largely intact, though buried under decades of silt and corrosion. There are no immediate hazards related to the wreck itself, but the low visibility and silt accumulation make exploration challenging. No cargo was identified during this initial dive, and further investigation is recommended to determine the vehicle’s contents.
Recommendations for Future Dives #
•Lighting: Strong underwater lighting is necessary due to the depth and lack of natural light penetration.
•Silt Management: Future dives should be conducted with care to minimize silt disruption, especially near the front end of the vehicle.
•Documentation: Video and photographic documentation should be prioritized to capture the condition of the wreck and any potential cargo.
•Excavation Tools: Light hand tools may be needed to carefully clear silt from the vehicle to access its interior and cargo space.
Notes #
The discovery of the 1929 REO taxi adds a significant chapter to the local legend of Larder Lake. While much of the vehicle remains covered by silt, further dives will be necessary to uncover any remaining mysteries, including the contents of its cargo, which have been the subject of speculation for decades.
