A shipwreck explorer from Southeast Michigan announced today his crew has discovered a 150-year-old shipwreck in Lake Huron.
We actually have located her much further away than anybody could have ever dreamed from the last point that she was sighted.
In November 1861 the Keystone State would normally have been headed back to its home port in Buffalo. But David Trotter of Undersea Research Associates says, for some reason the steamer turned and headed for Milwaukee in a rush. It left Detroit without lifeboats during a stormy month.
“The Civil War broke out in April ’61,” says Trotter. “She was lost in November. And there was some rumors and perhaps some indication she might have been carrying some type of military supplies destined for Milwaukee where there were forming militia groups.”
Trotter says the actual discovery of the Keystone State happened in a dive back in early July of this year. Monday he went public with a video released on his website.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJNmIFUfcf4
It took Trotter about 20 years to find the Keystone State – a 288-foot side-wheel steamer with luxury passenger accommodations.
“We actually have located her much further away than anybody could have ever dreamed from the last point that she was sighted off of Port Austin,” he says.
The Keystone State was found about 40 or 50 miles from Port Austin, at Michigan’s thumb.
The steamer was about 12 years old when it sank. The entire crew was lost. No passengers were on board.