Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cynthie
- Type: Propeller-driven fish tug
- Year Built: 1907
- Builder: M. B. Petersen, Sturgeon Bay, WI
- Dimensions: 27 ft × 9 ft × 3 ft; Gross tonnage: 7 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 7 GRT
- Location: About 5 miles off Sherwood Point, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 208967
- Original Owners: Dan Henry, Marinette, WI
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Overview
- Built: 1907, by M. B. Petersen, Sturgeon Bay, WI — wooden hull
- Type: Propeller-driven fish tug
- Dimensions: 27 ft × 9 ft × 3 ft; Gross tonnage: 7 GRT
- Official Number: 208967
- Owner at Loss: Dan Henry, Marinette, WI
Description
Final Incident (September 19, 1928)
- Date: September 19, 1928
- Location: About 5 miles off Sherwood Point, Green Bay, Lake Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause: Engine backfire ignited kerosene-soaked fishing nets, triggering a fire that consumed the vessel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cargo: Fishing gear (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Outcome: Vessel burned completely and sank
History
Casualties & Survivors
- Fatalities: Two crew members died after abandoning ship without lifejackets
- Survivors: One crewman wearing a lifejacket was rescued by the tug FLORENCE (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Significant Incidents
Notable Facts & Context
- Kerosene-drenched nets, used for preserving fishing gear, fueled the rapid spread of the fire (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Owner Dan Henry perished in the incident (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
Primary & Supplementary Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: complete incident summary including loss date, location, fire cause, and casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Wisconsin Historic Shipwrecks website: provides vivid crew details and confirms lifejacket use and abandonments
Current Condition & Accessibility
Research Opportunities & Next Steps
| Focus Area | Lead Action |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Archives | Search Green Bay Press-Gazette and Marinette Eagle-Star (Sept 1928) for eyewitness accounts and rescue reporting. |
| Coast Guard & LSS Logs | Review U.S. Coast Guard station records from Sherwood Point for incident dispatch reports. |
| Enrollment & Ownership | Retrieve U.S. enrollment documents via NARA Region 5 to confirm crew roster and official ownership. |
| Diving & Wreck Site Data | Investigate NOAA or Wisconsin DNR for any recorded debris field or submerged remnants, though site likely cleaned up post-sinking. |
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cynthie-us-208967″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The CYNTHIE caught fire due to an engine backfire igniting treated fishing nets off Sherwood Point on Sept 19, 1928. The blaze led to the vessel’s sinking and two fatalities—tragically, both victims abandoned without lifejackets. A survivor wearing a lifejacket was rescued, highlighting early maritime safety issues. The owner, Dan Henry, also perished in the fire.
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.
Vessel Overview
- Built: 1907, by M. B. Petersen, Sturgeon Bay, WI — wooden hull
- Type: Propeller-driven fish tug
- Dimensions: 27 ft × 9 ft × 3 ft; Gross tonnage: 7 GRT
- Official Number: 208967
- Owner at Loss: Dan Henry, Marinette, WI
Final Incident (September 19, 1928)
- Date: September 19, 1928
- Location: About 5 miles off Sherwood Point, Green Bay, Lake Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause: Engine backfire ignited kerosene-soaked fishing nets, triggering a fire that consumed the vessel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cargo: Fishing gear (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Outcome: Vessel burned completely and sank
Casualties & Survivors
- Fatalities: Two crew members died after abandoning ship without lifejackets
- Survivors: One crewman wearing a lifejacket was rescued by the tug FLORENCE (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Notable Facts & Context
- Kerosene-drenched nets, used for preserving fishing gear, fueled the rapid spread of the fire (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Owner Dan Henry perished in the incident (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Primary & Supplementary Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: complete incident summary including loss date, location, fire cause, and casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Wisconsin Historic Shipwrecks website: provides vivid crew details and confirms lifejacket use and abandonments
Research Opportunities & Next Steps
| Focus Area | Lead Action |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Archives | Search Green Bay Press-Gazette and Marinette Eagle-Star (Sept 1928) for eyewitness accounts and rescue reporting. |
| Coast Guard & LSS Logs | Review U.S. Coast Guard station records from Sherwood Point for incident dispatch reports. |
| Enrollment & Ownership | Retrieve U.S. enrollment documents via NARA Region 5 to confirm crew roster and official ownership. |
| Diving & Wreck Site Data | Investigate NOAA or Wisconsin DNR for any recorded debris field or submerged remnants, though site likely cleaned up post-sinking. |
Summary
The CYNTHIE caught fire due to an engine backfire igniting treated fishing nets off Sherwood Point on Sept 19, 1928. The blaze led to the vessel’s sinking and two fatalities—tragically, both victims abandoned without lifejackets. A survivor wearing a lifejacket was rescued, highlighting early maritime safety issues. The owner, Dan Henry, also perished in the fire.
cynthie-us-208967 1928-09-19 21:32:00