The 148-foot steamship Africa left from Ashtabula, Ohio, in the fall of 1895. It was heading to Owen Sound in Canada, captained by Hans Larsen, a 20-year maritime veteran of the Great Lakes.
The 11-man crew was carrying over 1,200 tons of coal while towing a schooner named the Severn.
After two days on the water, the steamship encountered a snowstorm.
As conditions worsened, Larsen ordered the crew to cut the tow line with the Severn as a precaution. The Severn’s captain, James Silverside, later told a local paper: “I have passed through some bad weather during my 35 years sailing, but that experience upon Lake Huron is as bad as any.”
The crew of the Severn was rescued. The steamship Africa, however, disappeared. All 11 men on board — including Capt. Larsen — died.
Fast forward to 2023.
Larsen’s descendants also live all over Canada. Larsen Cove is named for him. And it’s also the home for filmmakers Yvonne Drebert and Zack Melnick.
They were filming a documentary when they found the Africa’s watery grave at the bottom of Lake Huron, and invited Larsen’s family out to the water to see.
“We took them all out this past year, out to the wreck, and gave them a moment to sort of see their, see the wreck and reflect on the resting place of their ancestor as well,” Melnick said.
The steamship lies 280 feet down at the bottom of Lake Huron completely covered by invasive quagga mussels. Footage of the Africa can be seen in the film “All Too Clear.”
Find IPR's broader conversation with the filmmakers here.
