The deck between the forward and aft hatches is badly broken, probably from the 18 salvage operations. The BERMUDA had three hatches giving access to the cargo hold, as well as two companionways and the large cabin trunk near the stern. The foremast hole can be seen about 30 feet from the bow. Consequently, she remains in remarkably good condition her only major wounds are those inflicted by her salvagers.Īll of the vessel’s spars and rigging are gone, but the locations of her two masts are still apparent. The vessel lies in 25 feet of water in the shelter of the bay, protected from the ravages of Lake Superior’s storm waves and the grinding destruction of winter’s ice. The Murray Bay wreck provides a near unique opportunity to study an intact mid-19th century canal schooner. In June of 1960 local scuba divers extensively salvaged much of the remaining ore cargo for souvenirs for a regional rock and mineral show. The following year the wrecking schooner JOHNSON attempted to raise the BERMUDA, but without success. The WILLIAMS did manage to remove more than 120 tons of ore, but whether at the Anna River or in Murray Bay isn’t known. Once in the bay however, the lifting chains apparently slipped and the schooner settled on the bottom again. There is however, a large wooden keel, which gives some indication of how immense L’Herminie really was.Thirteen years later, in October 1883, Captain Higgins of the wrecking tug KATE WILLIAMS successfully raised the BERMUDA and towed her into Murray Bay. The wreck itself is in 35 feet of water and has mostly rotted, leaving only the metal artifacts and the brick kitchen behind. Divers have found items such as perfume bottles and intact bottles of cognac over the years here as well. Forty cannons remain on the bottom, with what’s left of the wreck.
Thusly, it sank with many artifacts on board, making it perhaps Bermuda’s most fascinating wreck from an archaeological viewpoint.
The French vessels Hercules, Jean and Osage eventually transported the survivors off the island.ĭue to the fear people had of the disease, island residents were hesitant to salvage the wreck. They were buried on Long Island in the Great Sound, along with other yellow fever victims.
Whether they contracted it on board or by mixing with fellow prisoners, many of the crew soon died of the disease. But as in Cuba, yellow fever was sweeping the island. Since Bermuda was a British Colony, the local authorities imprisoned the French crew and put them to work building roads at The Royal Naval Dockyard. Here it became grounded in almost dead-calm water. By the time they spotted land, though, L’Herminie had accidentally wandered into a treacherous stretch of barrier reef. On December 3, 1838, with most of the crew sick and encountering heavy seas, the ship sought shelter in Bermuda. With the disease spreading like wildfire, the ship was recalled to France. It arrived in Havana in August of that year and within a matter of months, 133 of its 500 crewmembers came down with yellow fever. In 1837, the French sent the ship into Mexican waters to defend the French claims against Mexico.
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