New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

shipwreck, freighter, USA

Built:

1920, Bethlehem Wilmington, Wilmington DE USA, as Maddequet

Specs:

( 327 x 46 ft ) 3482 gross tons, 32 crew

Sunk:

Sunday February 26, 1939
collision with freighter Wiegand ( 6568 tons) - no casualties

Depth:

150 ft

Most of the wreck has collapsed, with the exception of the bow, which is festooned with fishing nets. She is relatively deep and far from shore and is dived infrequently. Visibility is generally pretty good, and the Lillian routinely gives up some big lobsters.

The Lillian's wireless operator locked down the telegraph key on his set, causing the slowly-sinking ship to send out a steady screech on the radio until the Coast Guard finally shot off the aerial.