The bark was down-bound with a cargo of oats and brick and the propeller Colorado was up bound with merchandise and fate would have them meet in the heavy fog of Saginaw Bay with disastrous consequences for the H.P. Bridge. The collision was perfectly devastating for the Bark and she sank in minutes, beinging heavily laden with brick. The crew were taken aboard the Colorado and later a court of inquiry found the propeller grossly at fault for the mishap and fully liable for the loss. URA, in the normal course of survey activities, discovered the near perfectly-intact vessel in 2002. Having other projects to pursue, the team only fully realized the magnificent beauty of this time capsule in mid-2004 after the first dives were made in water over one hundred feet below sport diving limits. The H.P. Bridge, with her graceful lines and standing masts sits in quiet repose while the hawkish figurehead under her bowsprit glares into the timeless abyss. Team URA has filmed and explored this wreck and stand in awe and wonder at this special time capsule that is wonderfully preserved in the cold waters of the Great Lake Huron. |
