Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Charles E. Endell
- Type: Screw-propelled wooden tug (towboat)
- Year Built: 1879
- Builder: Joseph Robarge
- Dimensions: Length 57 ft (17.4 m); Beam 12.9 ft (3.9 m); Depth of hold 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 28.87 gt
- Location: Approximately 2 miles west of Whitefish Point
- Official Number: 125773
- Original Owners: A.A. Jenkins, James Reid & Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Charles E. Endell is classified as a screw-propelled wooden tug, also known as a towboat, designed for utility in maritime commerce.
Description
Constructed in 1879 in East Saginaw, Michigan, the Charles E. Endell was built atop the remains of the vessel known as “Star No. 2.” It featured a single-deck wooden hull and was propelled by a single screw propeller.
History
The Charles E. Endell was enrolled in Port Huron under its original owner A.A. Jenkins on October 7, 1879. The vessel suffered a fire in the Saginaw River shortly after its launch but was repaired and re-registered in Cheboygan, Michigan in 1885. By June 4, 1887, it was owned by James Reid & Company, based in St. Ignace, Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- 1879: Burned in Saginaw River but was repaired and rebuilt.
- 1887: Driven ashore in a severe storm on October 8, leading to its total wreck by October 20.
Final Disposition
The Charles E. Endell was lost on October 8, 1887, approximately 2 miles west of Whitefish Point in Lake Superior. The vessel was driven ashore during a severe storm, resulting in its hull being pounded to pieces and declared a total wreck by October 20, 1887.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site of the Charles E. Endell is characterized by its broken remains scattered across an open rock shoreline. Due to the robust surf of Lake Superior, any remnants are likely highly degraded. No organized salvage or dive survey has been reported, and no coordinates or underwater site records exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”charles-e-endell-us-125773-star-no-2″ title=”References & Links”]
The Charles E. Endell represents a significant piece of maritime history, illustrating the challenges faced by small wooden steam vessels in the Great Lakes. Its legacy is preserved in shipping registries and storm histories, reflecting the perilous nature of maritime operations during the steam era.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Charles E. Endell
- Official Number: 125773
- Built: 1879 in East Saginaw, Michigan by Joseph Robarge (constructed atop the bottom of “Star No. 2”)
- Vessel Type: Screw-propelled wooden tug (towboat)
- Hull: Single-deck wood
- Propulsion: Single screw propeller
- Dimensions & Tonnage
- Length: 57 ft (17.4 m)
- Beam: 12.9 ft (3.9 m)
- Depth: 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 28.87 gt
- Net Tonnage: 14.44 nt
- Ownership History
- 1879 Oct 7: Enrolled in Port Huron under original owner A.A. Jenkins, East Saginaw
- 1879: Burned in Saginaw River (not sunk; repaired/rebuilt)
- 1885: Re-registered in Cheboygan, Michigan
- 1887 Jun 4: Owned by James Reid & Company, St. Ignace, Michigan
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: 8 October 1887
- Location: Approximately 2 miles west of Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
- Cause: Driven ashore in a severe storm; hull pounded to pieces and declared a total wreck by 20 Oct 1887
Wreck Site & Condition
The Charles E. Endell broke apart on open rock shoreline. No organized salvage or dive survey has been reported. Due to exposure to Lake Superior’s robust surf, any remnants would be highly degraded or scattered across the intertidal zone. No coordinates or underwater site records exist.
Notmars & Navigational Advisories
No relevant NOTMAR entries or modern chart notices. The wreck occurred prior to systematic charting, and its site remains uncharted.
Historical Significance & Context
This small screw tug typifies late-19th-century utility vessels supporting Great Lakes maritime commerce—especially in northern Michigan. Surviving a prior fire, the Endell ultimately succumbed to Lake Superior’s autumn storms, highlighting the enduring risks for small wooden steam vessels during seasonal transitions.
Sources & Further Research
Primary chronology based on registry data and historical wreck files (e.g., Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – E).
Further archival detail—such as crew lists, storm reports, or insurance records—may be available in Michigan maritime archives or local newspapers from October 1887.
Conclusion
The Charles E. Endell lived a durable yet ultimately perilous service life: built in 1879, rebuilt after fire, and wrecked in 1887 by falling victim to Lake Superior’s harsh weather. Without surviving remains, her legacy lies in shipping registries and storm histories, emblematic of the working tugs that plied the Great Lakes during the steam era.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Great Lakes tug • Screw-propelled • Whitefish Point wreck • Lake Superior storm • 1887 maritime loss • wooden steam tug • registry documentation.
charles-e-endell-us-125773 1887-10-08 11:45:00