Nordic Diver - Christmas Tree Ship Rouse Simmons Shipwreck, Recreational and Technical Scuba Ship Wreck Diving on the Great Lakes. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, Superor, Huron, Trimix, Nitrox, Car Ferry Milwaukee, Charters

Schooner
Rouse Simmons

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Known as the Christmas Tree Ship, she is a 124 foot, three masted schooner built in 1868 at Milwaukee WI. She sank on November 23, 1912 in heavy seas and lies intact in 165 feet of water, just a few miles north of the Vernon. The remains of the Christmas trees still in her cargo holds.

ROUSE SIMMONS
Other names : none
Official no. : 110087
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1868, Allen, McClelland & Co., Milwaukee
Specs : 123x28x8, 205g 195n
Date of loss : 1912, Nov 26
Place of loss : off Kewaunee, WI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 17 [all]
Carrying : Christmas trees
Detail : The famous "Christmas Tree Ship" was on her last trip of the season when she sailed out from Manistique, overloaded, into the teeth of a blizzard-gale. She had her regular crew plus about 10 lumberjacks aboard. She was overwhelmed and sunk off Kewaunee. She had been spotted, ice covered and in distress, farther to the north, and several boats, including one from C.G., had tried to find her.
Wreck located 1971 in 180' near Rawley Pt.
Sources: nsp,ns2,polk,is(1&2-70,2-72),gsgl,sol,mh,wm2,h,mv,mpl,eas,ts