Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Charles J. Kershaw
- Type: Steam Screw Cargo Vessel
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Bangor, Michigan
- Dimensions: [not specified]
- Registered Tonnage: [not located]
- Location: Chocolay Reef, south of Marquette, Michigan
- Coordinates: Approximate; near Chocolay Reef
- Official Number: [not located]
- Original Owners: [not specified]
- Number of Masts: [not specified]
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Kershaw was a steam screw vessel, designed for heavy freight transport across the Great Lakes. Such vessels, propelled by a single propeller driven by steam, were crucial to the late 19th-century economy, hauling ore, coal, and lumber. The Kershaw exemplified the transition from sail to steam power, reflecting the era’s industrial innovation and demand for bulk cargo capacity.
Description
On 30 September 1895, the Kershaw was caught in one of the Great Lakes’ most violent autumn storms. Near Chocolay Reef south of Marquette, MI, the vessel ran aground in heavy seas. The force of the storm broke the vessel in two, making salvage impossible as a complete ship. The 13 crew aboard narrowly escaped drowning, their survival owing to swift action under dire conditions.
History
The Kershaw was declared a total loss. Its remains were left on Chocolay Reef, with no records of modern survey or mapping. The vessel’s dismantling marked the end of her 21-year career on the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- Led by Captain Hemminger using wrecking steamer Fern.
- Dynamite was employed to dismantle machinery and free valuable components.
- Recovered and raised machinery was resold, salvaging partial economic value from the wreck.
Final Disposition
The Kershaw was declared a total loss. Its remains were left on Chocolay Reef, with no records of modern survey or mapping. The vessel’s dismantling marked the end of her 21-year career on the Great Lakes.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is known, but there has been no formal modern survey. The Kershaw is broken apart on the reef, with machinery salvaged. Diving hazards include shallow reef, shifting sands, and limited remains.
Resources & Links
The Charles J. Kershaw highlights the perils of 19th-century navigation on Lake Superior. Its grounding and destruction on Chocolay Reef reflect the vulnerability of wooden screw steamers in severe storms, while the salvage by Captain Hemminger’s crew demonstrates the resourcefulness of Great Lakes wreckers. Though a total loss, the Kershaw remains part of the maritime history of Marquette and Lake Superior.