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Site: |
The Louisiana
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Location: |
 Southeast side of Washington Harbor, Door County, Wis.
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Dive Type:
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 Lake
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Comments: |
 A
severe snowstorm greeted the Louisiana and her crew as they negotiated
the rocky passage. With winds over 70 miles per hour, it whipped the
waves into huge, crashing breakers. Captain McDonald sought refuge from
the dangerous conditions in Washington Harbor on Washington Island, but
the Louisiana's anchors could not hold in the heavy seas and howling
wind. The fierce storm drove the ship aground, perilously close to the
rocky southeast shore of Washington Harbor.
With the seas pounding on the rocks,
the Louisiana's small lifeboat offered little chance of getting ashore
safely. Rather than braving the heavy seas and surf in the tiny boat,
the crew elected to ride out the storm aboard the grounded steamer. By
morning, however, the grave situation had grown worse. The storm was
still raging, the ship was still helplessly caught on the rocks, and
the cargo hold was now ablaze in a fire the crew could not extinguish.
Capt. McDonald and the desperate crew had little choice but to board
the lifeboat and take their chances in the surf, leaving the Louisiana
to suffer the ravages of the fire and the storm.
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Associtated Costs: |
 Free
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Depth: |
 10' at Bow, 25' at Aft'
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Temperature: |
70° F during Labor Day weekend
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Visibility: |
30'-40'
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Diving Hours: |
 24
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Air Fills: |
No
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Local Shops: |
Aqua Adventures
Washington Island, WI 54246
(414) 847-2824
(312) 878-1385
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Camping: |
Yes
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Website: |
http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/explore_louisiana_intro.cfm
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