Interesting story of about a Bugatti

Alex,



As a younger person on a vacation with my family along the north shore I was told of this event by a museum person. This means Lake Superior and it can preserve things, but it also means that the ship is more likely on the order of a boat carrying a smaller quantity of cars. Lake boats were the backbone of most transport at the time.



The vehicles in question were Essex automobiles and she said when they found them the sparkplug wires were all still in place. She was delighted when I knew about Essex and the Hudson Motor Car Company.



As far as recovery goes they attempted that and managed to drop the one car being raised when the had it about half way to the surface. I don't know if anyone has ever tried again.



Hudsonly



Drew Meyer

Lee,



Alright some of what I said is wrong apparently. It seems this was when I was in high school and we went to Door County in Wisconsin. So it is Sturgeon Bay area not North Shore. Given all that I have spent some time running a search and I get one shipwreck that may be it but they do not mention Essex cars. The year is 1924. It says Nash, Kissel and Reynolds cars were on board. Given the mixed bag its possible that Essex cars are on board or that someone tagged the Essex under Nash mistakely because of future heritage.



Below is the information. I will renew my search tonight but firmly believe that this is the ship in question. Why hasn't anyone taken another car off the ship. Many of these sites have been designated historical sites and nothing is to be removed.



LAKELAND

Other names : built as CAMBRIA, renamed in 1910

Official no. : 126420

Type at loss : propeller, iron, package and automobile freighter

Build info : 1887, Globe Iron Works, Cleveland

Specs : 280x40x20, 1878g 1378n

Date of loss : 1924, Dec 4

Place of loss : off Sturgeon Bay, WI

Lake : Michigan

Type of loss : foundered

Loss of life : ? [a diver was lost on the wreck in 1999]

Carrying : new automobiles

Detail : She sprang a leak and foundered. Foul play (insurance fraud) was suspected, but was never proven.

1st vessel on lakes over 300' overall.

1st vessel on lakes with a triple-expansion engine.

Built as passenger/freighter, last configuration in 1919.



Lakeland (1887) A 2,425-ton iron steamer built by the Pittsburg Steamship Companyin Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cambria, she was renamed the Lakeland on 24 May 1910.On 3 December 1924, after departing Sturgeon Bay where she had waited out astorm, she began taking on water and sank in 210 feet of water 6 miles east of the canal entrance with a cargo of Nash, Kissel, and Reynolds automobiles. Today, she lies upright and largely intact with many of her automobiles intact in her hold.



Once again, I had a detailed conversation with the person at the museum and she stated that there were Essex cars aboard the steamer. The year is appropriate for Essex



Hudsonly,



Drew Meyer

Hi Everyone,



This gets very interesting to me.



1. The only statements regarding cars aboard the Lakeland I've found say Nash, Kissel, and Reynolds?.

2. Most records say Lakeland was downward bound for Chicago.

3. The Lakeland was leaking and hid from a storm in Sturgeon Bay, then set out again.

4. The Lakeland sank near Algoma 9 miles south of the Sturgeon Bay inlet.

5. If upward bound she would have been no where near Algoma.

6. Kissel was manufactured in Hartford, WI. Nash was manufactured in Kenosha, WI.

7. Downward bound her hold would not have contained Kissel or Nash product unless she was returning them to the factory.

8. Downward bound she would have had to contain cars from east of her location, Detroit is a possibilty.

9. She sank Dec 4, 1924, that means she was likely carrying 1924 model cars if they were Hudson car products. Hudson tied the car models to its fiscal year and for 1925 that would be Dec 1, 1924. It was likely longer than three days since the cars had been loaded if they were picked up in Detroit.

10. Some cars have steel disc wheels, likely not Essex.

11. Nash did use disc wheels.

12. One car appears to have double spares mounted in the rear, likely not Essex.

13. One car in the video has similarities to Essex.

14. The radiator profile, drum headlights, headlight tiebar, wheel hubs and fender are similar to Essex.

15. The car has a bumper, the Butler book does not show any. The front springs do not appear to extend even with the front wheels as on an Essex. The image of the front wheel shows something behind it, a brake drum I suspect. If so it can't be an Essex no front brakes until 1928.

16. I cannot find any information if anyone has inventoried the cars and their makes.



Nothing sure. If I can find anymore I will post it. I might try to reach the Door County Historical Society to see if anyone had ever checked the Lakeland bill of lading or inventoried the actual cars remaining in the hold or around the ship to determine the actual make.



Curiously Essexly



Drew Meyer