Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: A.L. Hopkins (Amos L. Hopkins)
- Type: Steam Barge
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: Morley & Hill Shipyard
- Dimensions: 174.00 ft (53.04 m); 31.50 ft; 12.00 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 639.00
- Location: Lake Superior, east of Michigan Island, Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W
- Official Number: 105937
- Original Owners: Lawrence Brown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The A.L. Hopkins, also known as the Amos L. Hopkins, was built in 1880 as a wooden-hulled package freighter. Powered by an engine reportedly salvaged from the wrecked steamer Merchant, the vessel served in general freight before being converted to a bulk freighter in 1910 at the American Ship Building Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The hull was recaulked in 1887.
Description
Originally designed for mixed cargoes, the Hopkins was adapted over time to meet the needs of the growing bulk cargo industry on the Great Lakes. She measured 174 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 639. The vessel’s final configuration was as a lumber carrier.
History
On October 2, 1911, at about 11 p.m., A.L. Hopkins departed Bayfield, Wisconsin, heavily laden with 360,000 feet of lumber and 300,000 feet of lath loaded at the Wachsmuth docks. While bound for market, she encountered heavy seas and a squall that nearly capsized her and left her waterlogged. She lost part of her deck load and a seaman overboard; a lifeboat launched was immediately swept away with only one man aboard. Remarkably, both the man in the lifeboat and the seaman washed overboard were able to reboard the vessel.
Significant Incidents
The crew was rescued on October 3 by the ore carrier Dinkey, when the Hopkins was about 15 miles northeast of Michigan Island. The vessel, partially submerged, drifted around Lake Superior for two weeks before being last sighted on October 17, 1911, by the steamer William F. Corey, about 50 miles east of Michigan Island.
Final Disposition
The A.L. Hopkins eventually sank in Lake Superior east of Michigan Island. Her exact resting depth remains unrecorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Estimated location: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W, Lake Superior, Iron County, Wisconsin. Discovery details not documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”a-l-hopkins-us-105937″ title=”References & Links”]
No fatalities recorded. The wreck is presumed to be scattered, and typical Lake Superior offshore weather poses risks for divers.
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.
Identification Card
Name: A.L. Hopkins (Amos L. Hopkins)
Type: Steam Barge
Builder: Morley & Hill Shipyard
Build Year: 1880
Construction Location: Marine City, Michigan, USA
Dimensions: 53.04 m (174.00 ft) length × 9.60 m (31.50 ft) beam × 3.66 m (12.00 ft) depth of hold
Gross Tonnage: 639.00
Hull Material: Wood
Propulsion: Steam screw
Number of Masts: 0
Cargo on Final Voyage: 360,000 ft of lumber and 300,000 ft of lath
Date of Loss: October 2, 1911
Cause of Loss: Heavy seas and squall; abandoned and later sank
Location: Lake Superior, east of Michigan Island, Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W
Depth: Unknown
Registry Number: 105937
Owner at Loss: Lawrence Brown
Home Port: Cape Vincent, New York, USA
Description
The A.L. Hopkins, also known as the Amos L. Hopkins, was built in 1880 as a wooden-hulled package freighter. Powered by an engine reportedly salvaged from the wrecked steamer Merchant, the vessel served in general freight before being converted to a bulk freighter in 1910 at the American Ship Building Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The hull was recaulked in 1887.
History
Originally designed for mixed cargoes, the Hopkins was adapted over time to meet the needs of the growing bulk cargo industry on the Great Lakes. She measured 174 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 639. The vessel’s final configuration was as a lumber carrier.
Final Voyage
On October 2, 1911, at about 11 p.m., A.L. Hopkins departed Bayfield, Wisconsin, heavily laden with 360,000 feet of lumber and 300,000 feet of lath loaded at the Wachsmuth docks. While bound for market, she encountered heavy seas and a squall that nearly capsized her and left her waterlogged. She lost part of her deck load and a seaman overboard; a lifeboat launched was immediately swept away with only one man aboard. Remarkably, both the man in the lifeboat and the seaman washed overboard were able to reboard the vessel.
The crew was rescued on October 3 by the ore carrier Dinkey, when the Hopkins was about 15 miles northeast of Michigan Island. The vessel, partially submerged, drifted around Lake Superior for two weeks before being last sighted on October 17, 1911, by the steamer William F. Corey, about 50 miles east of Michigan Island.
Final Disposition
The A.L. Hopkins eventually sank in Lake Superior east of Michigan Island. Her exact resting depth remains unrecorded.
Located By & Date Found
Estimated location: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W, Lake Superior, Iron County, Wisconsin. Discovery details not documented.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Dive Information
- Access: Boat dive from Apostle Islands area
- Conditions: Cold water; potentially poor visibility; offshore site
- Depth: Unknown
- Coordinates: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W best guess estimate
- Hazards: Typical Lake Superior offshore weather; cold water immersion risk
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No fatalities recorded.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“After losing part of its deck load and a seaman overboard, the crew of the Hopkins attempted to abandon their vessel, only to have the lifeboat washed away with only one man aboard it… Later, both the man in the lifeboat and the seaman who had washed overboard were able to reboard the Hopkins.” — Contemporary accounts, October 1911
References
- Wisconsin Historical Society – A.L. Hopkins vessel record
- Contemporary news reports, October 1911
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Wreck Name: A.L. Hopkins
Other Names: Amos L. Hopkins
Coordinates: 46° 52.463′ N / 90° 18.499′ W
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: East of Michigan Island, Lake Superior, Wisconsin
Vessel Type: Steam Barge
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 53.04 m × 9.60 m × 3.66 m
Condition: Undocumented; presumed scattered wreckage
Cause of Loss: Heavy seas and squall; abandoned
Discovery Date: Not documented
Discovered By: Unknown
Method: Historical documentation and site reports
Legal Notes: Subject to Wisconsin state underwater heritage laws
Hazards: Cold water; offshore weather exposure
Permits Required: Artifact removal prohibited