Revisiting a Watery Grave Traditional Cache
Revisiting a Watery Grave
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
I have decided to revisit this awesome location after my previous cache here had gone MIA years ago.
The ship is approximately 1.2km from the beach access which is public property as the nearby Sherkston Resort to the west is a private community, so please no trespassing!
The cache itself is simply a baggie with a logsheet in it, but it inside a powerful magnet attached to the metal of the ship. There is no pen, so please bring your own writing implement. Please rehide it as well or better than you had found it as I would like to see this cache last a long time and I feel the new hiding spot should work nicely!
WARNING!! Depending on water levels, you may be able to walk into the wreck or use your boat to approach GZ. Whichever way you do approach this cache, please be mindful of the steel which has sharp edges. I was able to paddle right inside and had no issues, but I don`t want to see anybody get hurt.
Now for the history of this spot..
Built in 1901 in Lorain, Ohio, originally christened the "Venus", she was a propeller crane ship of steel construction, and after she was purchased by the Steel Products Corporation, her name was changed to match.
After six decades of service, she was decommissioned and was being towed by the tug, "Geo W. Rodgers" to be scrapped, when a storm brewed up on October 26, 1961 and she broke free from her towline. She went ashore and was holed, sinking in shallow water, where she has remained ever since.
A road was built out into the lake to facilitate her disassembling, but some key machinery still remains, including a large crane gear.
Her deck has been removed and the aft end is cut below the waterline.
Dimensions of her hold are 346' by 48' by 28'...lots of room to play around in.
Vessel Name: VENUS
Nationality: U.S.
Official Number 161876
Rig Propeller
Vessel Length: 346.00 feet.
Gross Tonnage: 3719.00
Vessel Width: 48.00 feet
Net Tonnage: 2766.00
Vessel Depth: 28.00 feet
Hull Material: Steel
Masts: 0
Hull Number: 00307
Ownership Changes:
Gilchrist Transportation Co.
Cleveland, OH U.S. 1901- 1913
Interlake Steamship Co. (Pickands, Mather & Co., Mgrs.)
Cleveland, OH U.S. 1913- 1941
Bethlehem Steel Corp. (Boland & Cornelius, Mgrs.)
Buffalo, NY U.S. 1941- 1951
Ore Navigation Co. (Boland & Cornelius, Mgrs.)
Buffalo, NY U.S. 1951- 1958
Steel Products Steamship Co. (Lake Shore Steel Co.)
Iron Mountain, MI U.S. 1958- 1961
This is definitely a cache that should not be done alone, nor should be attempted at night!!!
And as always, have fun and happy caching!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
zntargvp, fbhgu jrfg pbeare bs penar fhccbeg, jvgu gur trne. Haqrefvqr bs zrgny, evtug va gur pbeare.