• Name: Batavia

• Type: Steel Freighter

• Incident Date: April 30, 1909

• Location: Lake Michigan

• Cause: Found deserted, floating aimlessly

• Lives Lost: Unknown; crew missing

History:

The steel freighter Batavia was discovered adrift on Lake Michigan, with no crew members on board. The vessel was intact, and there were no clear indications of what had caused the crew to abandon ship. The mystery of the missing crew added a chilling note to the day’s disasters, as investigations yielded no conclusive answers.

The events of April 30, 1909, marked one of the most disastrous days in Great Lakes navigation history. Four vessels—George Nester, Russia, Batavia, and Aurania—suffered catastrophic incidents across Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. From violent storms to shifting cargo, crushing ice, and eerie desertions, the day highlighted the unpredictable and dangerous nature of commerce on the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical records and accounts of Great Lakes disasters.

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Archival information on specific incidents and vessels.

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Vessel histories and records.

Suggested Keywords & Categories:

• Keywords: George Nester, Russia freighter, Batavia mystery, Aurania ice sinking, Lake Superior disasters, Great Lakes shipwrecks, April 30, 1909 storm.

• Categories: Lake Superior Shipwrecks, Lake Huron Disasters, Lake Michigan Mysteries, 20th-Century Maritime History, Weather-Related Vessel Losses.

Glossary Terms:

• Package Freighter: A type of cargo vessel used to transport general goods, often with quick loading/unloading capabilities.

• Stranding: The process of a ship running aground, often due to weather or navigational challenges.

• Ice Floe: A sheet of floating ice that can crush or damage vessels navigating cold waters.

If you’d like specific maps, wreck locations, or further details on individual vessels, let me know!