Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lady of the Lake
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven cargo vessel
- Year Built: 1902
- Builder: Thornbury, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approximately 70 ft (21.34 m) length × 15 ft (4.57 m) beam × 5 ft (1.52 m) depth; 47 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 47 gross tons
- Location: Lake Huron, southwest of Christian Island, near Penetanguishene, Ontario
- Official Number: C111854
- Original Owners: Captain F. Henman, Thornbury, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lady of the Lake was a wooden propeller-driven cargo vessel, designed for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1902 at Thornbury, Ontario, the Lady of the Lake measured approximately 70 feet in length, 15 feet in beam, and had a depth of 5 feet. She was registered at 47 gross tons and primarily operated in the Georgian Bay area.
History
The Lady of the Lake was engaged in regular freight routes between Owen Sound and various destinations across Georgian Bay, carrying general cargo including flour and feed.
Significant Incidents
- On November 15, 1911, during a storm, the vessel experienced a hull failure that led to a leak.
- The fire stoves were submerged, extinguishing them and disabling the vessel’s power.
- As the situation worsened, the vessel capsized and sank.
- The captain and his brother, the only two aboard, managed to escape in a lifeboat just before the vessel foundered.
Final Disposition
The Lady of the Lake capsized and sank, but fortunately, there was no loss of life as both crew members survived. The wreck remains unlocated and has not been recovered.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Lady of the Lake has not been documented or located. Future underwater surveys near Christian Island may help identify potential sites, especially if any remnants lie in moderate depths.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lady-of-the-lake-c-111854″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Lady of the Lake highlights the vulnerabilities faced by early 20th-century vessels operating on Lake Huron. Despite her small size, her significance in cargo transport makes her story noteworthy.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
(built 1902; lost November 15, 1911)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lady of the Lake
- Official Number: C111854
- Year Built: 1902 at Thornbury, Ontario
- Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven cargo vessel
- Dimensions: Approximately 70 ft length × 15 ft beam × 5 ft depth; 47 gross tons
- Loss Date: November 15, 1911
- Location: Lake Huron, southwest of Christian Island, near Penetanguishene, Ontario (Facebook, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Cargo & Operational Context
- Cargo at loss: General cargo including flour and feed
- She was operating her regular route between Owen Sound and destinations eastward across Georgian Bay (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Circumstances of Loss
- During a storm, the vessel developed a hull failure and sprang a leak from unknown causes. Tanks submerged fire stoves, extinguishing them and disabling power.
- As her condition rapidly deteriorated, she capsized and sank.
- Two aboard—the captain and his brother—escaped in the lifeboat just before she foundered (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition & Casualties
- The ship capsized and sank; no loss of life occurred—all two aboard survived
- The wreck was not recovered and remains unlocated
- Ownership attributed to Captain F. Henman, Thornbury, Ontario (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Lady of the Lake |
| Official No. | C111854 |
| Built | 1902, Thornbury, Ontario |
| Vessel Type | Wooden propeller cargo vessel |
| Dimensions | ~70 × 15 × 5 ft; 47 gt |
| Cargo | Flour and feed |
| Loss Date | November 15, 1911 |
| Loss Location | Near Christian Island, Lake Huron |
| Cause of Loss | Hull failure (leak), capsized during storm |
| Crew & Casualties | 2 aboard; both survived |
| Owner | Capt. F. Henman, Thornbury |
| Wreck Located | Not documented |
Conclusion & Next Steps
- Lady of the Lake illustrates the vulnerabilities of early 20th-century propeller vessels on Lake Huron freight routes.
- Despite being small in size, her cargo and route significance make her loss noteworthy.
- High-quality archival and geographic sources confirm the timeline, route, cause, and crew survival.
- Her wreck remains unidentified, but an underwater survey near Christian Island may reveal potential sites, especially if hull remnants lie in moderate depths.