Wreck of French Steamer Le Lyonnais Finally Located After 150 Years, Solving a Long-Standing Mystery
Posted on Sep 12, 2024 at 09:09 PM
In the Atlantic Ocean, Le Lyonnais was discovered approximately 140 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Following the sinking of the French passenger vessel, over 100 people perished.
Similarly, D/V Tenacious, a New Jersey-based shipwreck search organisation, discovered a French passenger steamer that sank in 1856, killing over 100 people.
The ship, Le Lyonnais, while travelling from the US to France, collided with the American sailing ship Adriatic, killing 114 of its 132 passengers, while Adriatic remained unaffected.
Challenges with Identifying the Wreckage
Discovering the last resting site of a ship has baffled shipwreck searchers for more than 150 years. Subsequently, seven shipwreck searchers from D/V Tenacious verified on August 24 that they had located the debris around 140 miles east of Nantucket, Mass.
Moreover, Jennifer Sellitti, 50, stated, "I felt like I was giving closure to the people who suffered there, being able to find this ship." Lawyer and historian Ms. Sellitti is the author of "The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run off the Coast of Nantucket," a book about the drowning of the Le Lyonnais.
According to Ms. Sellitti, the crew was first unsure of the severity of the incident, but the Adriatic proceeded to Gloucester, Massachusetts, two days after the crash, with only minor damage.
Ms. Sellitti confirmed that Le Lyonnais's hull was pierced, and workers attempted to repair the damage. However, the crew struggled to maintain the ship's motion, leading to its sinking on November 5, the third day after the accident.
The Diving Tale: Uncovering Clues
In the 1850s, shipmakers transitioned from sail-powered to steam-powered, causing a ship crash that sparked international debates on technological and geopolitical issues.
In 2023, D/V Tenacious conducted sonar surveys on the Atlantic Ocean's Georges Bank, identifying two shipwrecks potentially related to Le Lyonnais. However, a dive in August revealed the wreck's remnants as a different one.
Intriguingly, Joe Mazraani, 46, a criminal defence attorney who often hunts shipwrecks, noticed that the wreck had Le Lyonnais's design after diving to the second spot. It featured a horizontal steam engine, sails, and the same engine cylinder width.
“For the life of me, I didn't think we were going to get this thing nailed inside of three years,” he remarked.
According to Mr. Mazraani, spending time with something that had probably not been seen since the day it collapsed—a horrific occurrence that resulted in unfathomable grief and suffering—was “sobering.”
Worthwhile to note, that the diving crew identified a wreck of Le Lyonnais due to its unique steam engine and sail system. They found iron hull plates and a screw propeller, as well as portholes.
The wreck's location and depth have not been revealed to prevent crowds, but the team plans to revisit the site to catalogue the artefacts and learn more about the ship that collided with Le Lyonnais and The Adriatic on November 2, 1856. The Asbury Park Press confirmed the discovery.
The discovery of Le Lyonnais brings a sense of closure to a tragedy that’s lingered for over a century and a half. For the team at D/V Tenacious, finding the ship’s final resting place offers an important opportunity to remember the lives lost and explore a piece of history that’s remained hidden beneath the waves. As they plan to return to the site for further study, this discovery sheds light on the fateful journey and the challenges of maritime travel in the 19th century. It’s a significant moment for historians and shipwreck hunters alike, closing a chapter that has puzzled many for generations.
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