Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: CHECOTAH
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: Bailey Bros., Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: 199 ft (60.7 m) x 34 ft (10.4 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 658 gross tons, 598 net tons
- Location: Off Port Sanilac, Michigan
- Coordinates: Approx. 12 mi NE of Port Sanilac, ~6 mi offshore
- Official Number: 85267
- Original Owners: Multiple over lifetime
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The CHECOTAH was a schooner-barge, a towed wooden vessel typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Designed for bulk cargo transport, she featured a broad beam and reinforced hold structure, enabling transport of heavy commodities like lumber and coal. As a barge, she operated under tow rather than sail, aligned with evolving propulsion logistics of the era.
Description
The CHECOTAH was a schooner-barge, a towed wooden vessel typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Designed for bulk cargo transport, she featured a broad beam and reinforced hold structure, enabling transport of heavy commodities like lumber and coal. As a barge, she operated under tow rather than sail, aligned with evolving propulsion logistics of the era.
History
Built in 1870 in Toledo, Ohio, as the GEORGE D. RUSSELL, she initially served in general bulk cargo trade. In 1882, she was involved in a deadly collision with the steamer NORTHERNER in the St. Mary’s River, leading to three fatalities and her first decommissioning. She was raised, rebuilt, and renamed CHECOTAH in 1890.
After resuming service in lumber transport, she suffered another wreck in Cleveland in 1905. Despite the second loss and registry surrender, she was again salvaged and returned to duty.
On 30 October 1906, CHECOTAH was under tow by the steamer TEMPEST during a Lake Huron storm when she foundered. The crew of seven abandoned ship and survived. Her lumber-laden hulk remained partially afloat and was declared a navigational hazard.
Significant Incidents
- 1882: Collision with the steamer NORTHERNER in the St. Mary’s River, resulting in three fatalities.
- 1905: Wreck in Cleveland, leading to registry surrender.
- 1906: Foundered during a storm while under tow by the TEMPEST; crew abandoned ship and survived.
Final Disposition
CHECOTAH’s final wreck status was recorded as an abandoned hulk. Her waterlogged lumber cargo helped keep the remains semi-buoyant. With three separate registry surrenders over her lifetime, she exemplifies the persistent yet vulnerable character of working lake barges of the period.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Located shortly after her loss in 1906, the CHECOTAH wreck is positioned ~12 mi northeast of Port Sanilac and ~6 mi offshore. Part of the hull remains visible and was subject to marking as a hazard post-loss.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”checotah-george-d-russell-us-85267″ title=”References & Links”]
All seven crew survived the 1906 sinking. Three fatalities occurred in the 1882 incident under the name GEORGE D. RUSSELL. Crew names may be located via Buffalo Evening News (Oct 31 & Nov 1, 1906).
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 (Site Style)
Other Names: GEORGE D. RUSSELL
Official Number: 85267
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge
Builder: Bailey Bros., Toledo, Ohio
Year Built: 1870
Dimensions: 199 ft (60.7 m) x 34 ft (10.4 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m)
Tonnage: 658 gross tons, 598 net tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Lumber
Date of Loss: 30 October 1906
Location: Off Port Sanilac, Michigan, Lake Huron
Coordinates: Approx. 12 mi NE of Port Sanilac, ~6 mi offshore
Depth: Partially submerged (exact depth unknown)
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Multiple over lifetime
Crew: 7
Casualties: None
Description
The CHECOTAH was a schooner-barge, a towed wooden vessel typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Designed for bulk cargo transport, she featured a broad beam and reinforced hold structure, enabling transport of heavy commodities like lumber and coal. As a barge, she operated under tow rather than sail, aligned with evolving propulsion logistics of the era.
History
Built in 1870 in Toledo, Ohio, as the GEORGE D. RUSSELL, she initially served in general bulk cargo trade. In 1882, she was involved in a deadly collision with the steamer NORTHERNER in the St. Mary’s River, leading to three fatalities and her first decommissioning. She was raised, rebuilt, and renamed CHECOTAH in 1890.
After resuming service in lumber transport, she suffered another wreck in Cleveland in 1905. Despite the second loss and registry surrender, she was again salvaged and returned to duty.
On 30 October 1906, CHECOTAH was under tow by the steamer TEMPEST during a Lake Huron storm when she foundered. The crew of seven abandoned ship and survived. Her lumber-laden hulk remained partially afloat and was declared a navigational hazard.
Final Dispositions
CHECOTAH’s final wreck status was recorded as an abandoned hulk. Her waterlogged lumber cargo helped keep the remains semi-buoyant. With three separate registry surrenders over her lifetime, she exemplifies the persistent yet vulnerable character of working lake barges of the period.
Located By & Date Found
Located shortly after her loss in 1906, the CHECOTAH wreck is positioned ~12 mi northeast of Port Sanilac and ~6 mi offshore. Part of the hull remains visible and was subject to marking as a hazard post-loss.
Notmars & Advisories
CHECOTAH was declared a dangerous derelict due to partial submersion and floating timber. Historic warnings were issued for the wreck site vicinity. Modern status unconfirmed.
Dive Information
Access: Boat
Entry Point: Off Port Sanilac
Conditions: Variable visibility, cold water, debris hazards
Depth Range: Surface to shallow submersion
Emergency Contacts: USCG Saginaw River Sector, local sheriff/marine patrol
Permits: Required for disturbance
Dive Support: Regional charters may offer access; site is partially visible depending on lake conditions
Crew & Casualty Memorials
All seven crew survived the 1906 sinking. Three fatalities occurred in the 1882 incident under the name GEORGE D. RUSSELL. Crew names may be located via Buffalo Evening News (Oct 31 & Nov 1, 1906).
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Checotah was found wallowing and broken after she parted lines with the Tempest. Her cargo keeps her afloat yet she lists heavily… a menace to navigation.”
— Buffalo Evening News, October 31, 1906
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official No. 85267. U.S. Merchant Vessel Lists (1875, 1906, 1907) and National Board of Lake Underwriters records document three registry surrenders due to wrecks in 1882, 1905, and 1906.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Photograph from the Brendon Baillod Collection included. A 3D model of the wreck is embedded via 3D Shipwrecks and corroborates hull structure and drift location offshore.
Image Gallery
The CHECOTAH submerged in Lake Huron — Brendon Baillod Collection (used with permission)
Resources & Links
References
- Buffalo Evening News, October 31 & November 1, 1906
- Merchant Vessel Lists (USA) 1906, 1907
- National Board of Lake Underwriters Classification List, 1875
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: GEORGE D. RUSSELL
Official Number: 85267
Coordinates: Approx. 12 mi NE of Port Sanilac, Lake Huron
Depth: Partially submerged (variable)
Location Description: Offshore, floating and submerged timber cargo
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 199 ft x 34 ft x 12 ft; 658 GRT
Condition: Broken and semi-submerged
Cause of Loss: Storm sinking while under tow
Discovery Date: 1906
Discovered By: Mariners and authorities post-loss
Method: Visual and reported hazard
Legal Notes: Declared a derelict hazard; permits required today
Hazards: Floating debris and submerged wreckage
Permits Required: Yes (for disturbance)
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