Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: A. Booth
- Type: Propeller-driven fish tug (wooden steamer)
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: James P. Smith, Chicago, Illinois
- Dimensions: Length 98 ft (29.9 m); Beam 15 ft (4.6 m); Depth of hold 5.3 ft (1.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 45.20 tons, Net 26.32 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 36.576 m / 120 ft
- Location: Approximately 6 miles off Duluth, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Approximate location 6 miles offshore Duluth
- Official Number: 106108
- Original Owners: A. Booth & Sons, Chicago
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The A. Booth was a compact, propeller-driven fish tug designed for collecting fish and related supplies along Lake Superior. Its wooden hull featured a decorative eagle figurehead, highlighting the owners’ flair.
Description
Commissioned by A. Booth & Sons in Chicago, the A. Booth played a key role in the late 19th-century fish collection network on Lake Superior’s North Shore. It was designed as a collection steamer, supplying remote fishing stations and transporting fish to markets.
History
The A. Booth was built in 1882 and was one of the fastest boats on the Great Lakes. On 27 August 1886, it sank near Grand Portage in approximately 60 feet of water, reported as a total loss with property damages of $17,200, though no lives were lost.
Significant Incidents
- 27 August 1886: Initial sinking near Grand Portage, Lake Superior.
- 23 August 1887: Final sinking during tow to Duluth after being raised.
Final Disposition
In September 1886, underwriters contracted S. A. Murphy of Detroit for salvage. Captain J. Falcon successfully raised the A. Booth in July 1887, but it sank again due to a squall while under tow, approximately six miles off Duluth.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located at a depth of around 120 feet (36.6 m) in Lake Superior. Visibility conditions may vary, and access is by boat only. Divers should check local regulations and guidelines before planning a dive.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”a-booth-us-106108″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As you explore the A. Booth, remember to respect the site and its history. Leave only bubbles and take only memories, ensuring that this historic wreck remains preserved for future generations.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Lead Image
Identification Card (Site Style)
Name: A. Booth
Other Names: None known
Official Number: 106108
Registry: U.S.
Vessel Type: Propeller‑driven fish tug (wooden steamer)
Builder: James P. Smith, Chicago, Illinois
Year Built: 1882
Dimensions: Length 98 ft (29.9 m), Beam 15 ft (4.6 m), Depth 5.3 ft (1.6 m)
Tonnage: Gross 45.20 tons, Net 26.32 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Fish or related supplies (collection steamer)
Date of Loss: 27 August 1886 (initial sinking); final sinking 23 August 1887
Location: Initially near Grand Portage, Lake Superior; ultimately sank ~6 miles from Duluth, 20 fathoms depth (≈120 ft / 36.6 m)
Coordinates: Approximate—6 mi offshore Duluth, Lake Superior (precise TBD)
Depth: ~20 fathoms (~120 ft / 36.6 m)
Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
Owners: A. Booth & Sons, Chicago
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None (no lives lost)
Description
A. Booth was a compact, propeller‑driven fish tug built in 1882 by James P. Smith in Chicago. Its wooden hull featured a decorative eagle figurehead, underscoring its owners’ flair. Designed as a collection steamer, it supplied remote fishing stations along Lake Superior and transported fish to markets. (Link to the Past)History
Commissioned by A. Booth & Sons in Chicago, the A. Booth played a key role in the late 19th‑century fish collection network on Lake Superior’s North Shore. (MNHS North Shore MPDF) On 27 August 1886, she sank near Grand Portage in ~60 ft of water—reported as a total loss with property damages of $17,200, though no lives were lost. (Link to the Past)Final Dispositions
In September 1886, underwriters contracted S. A. Murphy of Detroit to attempt salvage; he would receive $4,500 only if he delivered the vessel to Duluth that fall. In July 1887, Captain J. Falcon of Chicago successfully raised the A. Booth near Grand Marais, finding it in “comparatively good condition.” (Link to the Past) While under tow toward Duluth, a northeasterly squall broke free several flotation casks, causing the tug to fill, capsize, and sink a second time in 20 fathoms of water (~120 ft/36.6 m), roughly six miles off Duluth. No subsequent recovery attempt was made. (Link to the Past)Located By & Date Found
Raised by Capt. J. Falcon in July 1887; final resting location established based on eyewitness accounts of sinking during tow from Grand Marais to Duluth. No modern sonar confirmation known.Notmars & Advisories
None noted in the historical record—no modern navigational warnings or notices issued. Dive hazard possible due to shallow depth, but no formal advisory recorded.Dive Information
Access: Boat only Entry Point: Duluth harbor Conditions: Likely ranging visibility; depth around 36.6 m (120 ft) in open Lake Superior Depth Range: ~120 ft / 36.6 m Emergency Contacts: Duluth Coast Guard, local maritime rescue Permits: Unknown; check Minnesota state and NOAA guidelines Dive Support: Duluth-based dive charters or historical dive associationsCrew & Casualty Memorials
All crew survived both sinkings. No individual names or memorials documented in available sources. Further research via regional papers may yield crew identity.Documented Statements & Extracts
“Smith, Davis & Co., in behalf of the underwriters, have closed a contract … to raise the steamer A. BOOTH, which is sunk in about 60 feet of water at Grand Portage … in case Murphy delivers her at Duluth this fall he is to get $4,500 …” — Detroit Tribune, 18 Sep 1886.
“Capt. J. Falcon of Chicago has raised the propeller A. BOOTH, sunk near Grand Marais last year. She is in comparatively good condition and will be repaired at Duluth.” — Chicago Inter‑Ocean, 29 Jul 1887.
“The A. BOOTH … was struck by a squall while being towed to Duluth and went down in twenty fathoms of water six miles from here, where it will be impossible to raise her.” — Chicago Inter‑Ocean, 24 Aug 1887.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number: 106108. Registry: U.S. Home port: Chicago, Illinois. Mentioned in U.S. Merchant Vessel List 1885. Insured, based on underwriter-led salvage contract with Murphy. Final insurance outcome not recorded.Site Documentation & Imaging
No known underwater surveys, photos, or 3‑D models currently documented. No NOAA VR record as of latest check. Potential future survey candidate based on location and depth.Image Gallery
Still LookingResources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Chronicling America (LOC newspapers)
- Newspapers.com
References
- Chicago Inter‑Ocean, 29 July 1887: raising report.
- Chicago Inter‑Ocean, 24 August 1887: sinking during tow.
- Detroit Tribune, 18 September 1886: salvage contract.
- Link to the Past – Chapter 40
- MNHS – Collection Steamers
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Wreck Name: A. Booth
Other Names: None
Official Number: 106108
Coordinates: Approx. 6 mi off Duluth, Lake Superior (precise unknown)
Depth: ~20 fathoms (~120 ft / 36.6 m)
Location Description: Tow route from Grand Marais to Duluth
Vessel Type: Propeller‑driven wooden fish tug
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Length 98 ft, Beam 15 ft, Depth 5.3 ft; Gross 45.2 tons, Net 26.32 tons
Condition: Presumed broken or dispersed at depth
Cause of Loss: Capsizing during storm while under tow
Discovery Date: 1887 (eyewitness)
Discovered By: Not applicable (location fixed by event)
Method: Not applicable
Legal Notes: Salvage contract, insurance presumed paid
Hazards: None officially noted
Permits Required: Unknown; divers should consult MN DNR and NOAA
The A. Booth was built in 1882 by James P. Smith in Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of its original owner, Alfred Booth & Co. This wooden vessel boasted an impressive figurehead of a fancy eagle and was one of the fastest boats on the Great Lakes. It had a length of 98 feet, a beam of 15 feet, and a depth of 5.3 feet. With a gross tonnage of 45.2 tons and a net tonnage of 26.32 tons, the A. Booth was well-equipped for its role as a fish tug.
a-booth-us-106108
1886-08-27 07:48:00