The Charlemagne Tower Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
CHARLEMAGNE TOWER
The Charlemagne Tower was built in 1888 at Quayle & M Co.,
Cleveland. She was 255 feet long, 40feet wide, displaced 1825 gross
tons and was owned by Southern Steamship Co.
On March 6, 1914,while en route from Norfolk, Virginia, to Boston,
she started to take on water. Captain Simmons ran her toward shore,
then gave the order to abandon ship. All of the 17 men aboard
departed in two lifeboats. One boat with four on board made it to
shore despite a heavy surf. Captain Simmons and twelve crewmen were
less lucky. They survived for twelve hours in a rough sea with snow
and freezing temperatures acting against them before they were
finally rescued by the vessel Bayport.
Today the Charlemagne Tower sits in 55 feet of water. Her wood hull
is collapsed and low lying but is none the less interesting to
explore.
Charlemagne Tower. Photo Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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The Charlemagne Tower was built in 1888 at Quayle & M Co.,
Cleveland. She was 255 feet long, 40feet wide, displaced 1825 gross
tons and was owned by Southern Steamship Co.