Century Old Shipwreck Found in Superior

This photo provided by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society shows the Cyprus, an ore freighter ship, on her maiden voyage, that sank in Lake Superior in 1907. Shipwreck explorers have discovered the century-old gravesite of the Cyprus, an ore carrier that sank mysteriously during a Lake Superior storm less than two months after it was launched. All but one of 23 crew members died in the Oct. 11, 1907, disaster. (AP Photo/Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society) (AP)

Pitz and his companions were hurled into the lake. They climbed aboard the raft and by 2 a.m. had drifted within 300 feet of land. But the raft flipped over several times in the churning surf, drowning everyone but Pitz, who washed ashore, cold and exhausted.

All but two of the 22 victims' bodies were recovered.

The cause of the wreck is a matter of debate. News reports speculated water had entered the Cyprus' hold through faulty hatch covers, causing the ore cargo to shift and create the dangerous list.

Pitz insisted the hatch covers were battened down, although Sanborn, who has researched the tragedy, said water did get through them.

"There were absolutely no doubts that there were problems with the hatches," she said in a phone interview last week.

Hull damage is another possibility, said Tom Farnquist, the group's executive director.

The captain of a steamer that passed near the Cyprus before it sank said it was trailed by a reddish wake. That suggests water had gotten into the cargo hold, where it was discolored by the iron ore. The water then was being pumped out or was seeping through the hull, Farnquist said.

Fred Stonehouse, a marine historian and author in Marquette, offered another theory: The Cyprus was doomed by engine or rudder trouble that prevented the crew from staying out of deep troughs between the waves, where ships are especially vulnerable to tipovers.

Farnquist said the shipwreck society would send its underwater cameras back to the site for further study. Two inspections have shown that half the pilot house is missing and wreckage is strewn 270 feet off the bow, he said.

Pitz had estimated the ship was 10 miles farther offshore than it turned out to be _ one reason no one discovered the site earlier, Farnquist said.

"It's a relief knowing that finally this ship has been located," said Bill Thorne of Sault Ste. Marie. His uncle, George Thorne, was the watchman who almost made it to shore with Pitz. His body was found three days later, still strapped to the raft.

"Now we have a better understanding of what happened to George," Thorne said.

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On the Net:

Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society: http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com