Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Charles Stewart Parnell
- Type: Wooden screw steamer / wooden steam barge, bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, MI
- Dimensions: Length 256.4 ft (78.1 m); Beam 38.5 ft (11.7 m); Depth 19.8 ft (6.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 1,739 gt; Net 1,292 nt
- Location: Off Squaw Island, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Unknown (approximate position relative to Squaw Island to be refined via ongoing survey)
- Official Number: 126463 (or 126483 per alternate registry)
- Original Owners: M. J. Cummings et al., Oswego, NY
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Charles Stewart Parnell was a wooden-hulled, diagonal-strapped steamer with a steel boilerhouse, powered by a triple-expansion steam engine and twin Scotch boilers, driving a single screw propeller.
Description
Built in 1888, she functioned as a bulk freight vessel, primarily transporting coal.
History
Launched in April 1888 for M. J. Cummings & Co. out of Oswego, NY, the vessel served as a coal-carrying freighter across the Great Lakes. She underwent repairs in 1898 and suffered obstruction damage near Grosse Pointe, MI, in 1889.
Her final voyage commenced from Lake Huron—having weathered the Mataafa Storm—heading southwest through the Straits of Mackinac towards Chicago. While in the channel north of Squaw Island, the crew noticed smoke during Thanksgiving dinner. A fire had erupted in the coal near the steering gear and quickly became uncontrollable. After firefighting efforts failed, the crew abandoned ship into lifeboats and were promptly rescued by the passing steamer Harlem. Attempts to tow the burning Parnell failed due to intense heat; she soon sank.
Significant Incidents
- Obstruction damage near Grosse Pointe, MI, in 1889.
- Onboard coal fire leading to abandonment and sinking on November 29, 1905.
Final Disposition
Cause of loss: onboard coal fire within the cargo hold. The vessel was a total loss, sinking rapidly after abandonment.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is currently under investigation, with ongoing exploration including photogrammetric mapping and underwater documentation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”charles-stewart-parnell-us-126463″ title=”References & Links”]
All crew survived; no memorials currently recorded. Crew manifests and names remain to be researched via newspaper archives and maritime logs for potential memorial placement or acknowledgment.
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 & Video (Upcoming)
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Chas. Stewart Parnell
Official Number: 126463 (or 126483 per alternate registry)
Registry: United States merchant registry
Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer / wooden steam barge, bulk freighter
Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, MI
Year Built: 1888
Dimensions: Length 256.4 ft (78.1 m); Beam 38.5 ft (11.7 m); Depth 19.8 ft (6.0 m)
Tonnage: Gross 1,739 gt; Net 1,292 nt
Cargo on Final Voyage: Coal
Date of Loss: 29 November 1905 (Thanksgiving)
Location: Off Squaw Island, Lake Michigan
Coordinates: Unknown (approximate position relative to Squaw Island to be refined via ongoing survey)
Depth: Unknown—site under investigation
Home Port: Likely Oswego, NY (original owner)
Owners: M. J. Cummings et al., Oswego, NY
Crew: Approx. 17 persons on board, per survivors
Casualties: None—crew rescued by steamer Harlem
Description
The **Charles Stewart Parnell** was a wooden-hulled, diagonal‑strapped steamer with steel boilerhouse, powered by a triple‑expansion steam engine and twin Scotch boilers, driving a single screw propeller. Built in 1888, she functioned as a bulk freight vessel, primarily transporting coal.
History
Launched in April 1888 for M. J. Cummings & Co. out of Oswego, NY, the vessel served as a coal-carrying freighter across the Great Lakes. She underwent repairs in 1898 and suffered obstruction damage near Grosse Pointe, MI, in 1889.
Her final voyage commenced from Lake Huron—having weathered the **Mataafa Storm**—heading southwest through the Straits of Mackinac towards Chicago. While in the channel north of Squaw Island, the crew noticed smoke during Thanksgiving dinner. A fire had erupted in the coal near the steering gear and quickly became uncontrollable. After firefighting efforts failed, the crew abandoned ship into lifeboats and were promptly rescued by the passing steamer **Harlem**. Attempts to tow the burning Parnell failed due to intense heat; she soon sank.
Final Disposition
Cause of loss: onboard coal fire within the cargo hold. The vessel was a total loss, sinking rapidly after abandonment.
Located By & Date Found
Joe Van Wagnen and Mark Gammage have successfully located the wreck site—marking the first confirmed discovery of Charles Stewart Parnell. Precise date details of discovery to be inserted once available. The ongoing exploration includes photogrammetric mapping and underwater documentation.
Notmars & Advisories
No known navigational warnings or hazards were issued historically. Future advisories may follow based on site condition and accessibility.
Dive Information
Access: Boat.
Entry Point: Likely via nearshore launch near Squaw Island, MI.
Conditions: Lake Michigan—expect cold thermocline, moderate currents, variable visibility.
Depth Range: TBD pending survey.
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie or Milwaukee, depending on jurisdiction.
Permits: Likely required via NOAA and Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Office for any disturbance.
Dive Support: Local charters and dive shops in the Cheboygan or Alpena region may assist.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
All crew survived; no memorials currently recorded. Crew manifests and names remain to be researched via newspaper archives and maritime logs for potential memorial placement or acknowledgment.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“…smoke was seen coming from the coal near the steering gear… the entire cargo was on fire… Capt. William Griffin ordered the men into the lifeboats.” — *Buffalo Evening News*, December 2, 1905
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official number: 126463 (or 126483 in alternate registry)
Site Documentation & Imaging
A forthcoming **photogrammetry model**, underwater video, and site images will form the core of documentation. Additional resources will include NOAA Sanctuary VR, local maritime museum archives, and historical black‑and‑white imagery. If available, side‑scan sonar or sub‑bottom profiling will add significant value.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- List of Shipwrecks in 1905
- GreatLakesShips.org
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Newspapers.com (for archival reports)
- Find A Grave (for potential crew memorials)
References
- “Chas. Stewart Parnell burned at Squaw Island in Lake Michigan. All 17 people on board survived.” *List of Shipwrecks in 1905*
- Buffalo Evening News, December 2, 1905—crew rescue narrative
- Detroit/Wyandotte Shipbuilding Master List, Institute for Great Lakes Research—vessel construction and specs
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Chas. Stewart Parnell
Official Number: 126463 (126483 alt.)
Coordinates: TBD (off Squaw Island, Lake Michigan)
Depth: TBD
Location Description: Channel off Squaw Island, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Wooden screw steamer, bulk freighter
Material: Wood (diagonal straps, steel boilerhouse)
Dimensions: 256.4′ × 38.5′ × 19.8′, 1,739 gt, 1,292 nt
Condition: Unknown, under ongoing documentation
Cause of Loss: Onboard fire in coal cargo
Discovery Date: [Insert discovery date here]
Discovered By: Joe Van Wagnen & [Your Name]
Method: Underwater survey and visual confirmation
Legal Notes: Historic US‑flagged vessel—ownership likely transferred to state/collective wreck status; permit requirements pending.
Hazards: Potential debris field hazard; further assessment required
Permits Required: Likely under NOAA and state historic preservation guidelines