Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Elgin
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: L. Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 139 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft (42.4 m × 7.9 m × 3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~330 ft (330 GRT, 310 NRT)
- Location: Lake Superior, off Grand Marais, Minnesota
- Official Number: 135898
- Original Owners: Captain John Shea, Duluth
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wood-built schooner-barge, commonly towed by tugs to carry bulk materials. Earlier classified also as a lighter due to cargo-carrying role.
Description
As a schooner-barge, Elgin lacked its own propulsion, configured for towing. Constructed using typical Canadian timber-frame methods; her hold was sized for bulk hay and coal. Under tow by tug Crosby, she had minimal deckhouse or accommodations.
History
Launched in 1874 at St. Catharines under Canadian registry. Sometime after sale in August 1885, she was re-registered under U.S. registry when salvaged near Racine, Wisconsin. Owned at time of loss by Captain John Shea, Duluth. Primarily served Lake Superior cargo runs in tow.
Significant Incidents
– On 29 October 1906, while in tow of the tug Crosby near Grand Marais MN, a strong northeast gale swamped the Elgin. She became waterlogged, broke apart, and was “torn to pieces” by the storm. Crew survived; wreck lost at sea.
Final Disposition
On 29 October 1906, while in tow of the tug Crosby near Grand Marais MN, a strong northeast gale swamped the Elgin. She became waterlogged, broke apart, and was “torn to pieces” by the storm. Crew survived; wreck lost at sea.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No recorded discovery of wreckage. No surveys or dives reported; presumed to remain broken and contested on lake bed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”elgin-us-135898″ title=”References & Links”]
The Elgin typifies early 20th-century schooner-barges lost under tow during seasonal storms. Her loss speaks to operational risks of barge towing in Lake Superior’s volatile weather. Though no dive records exist, her remains may lie scattered with minimal structural integrity.
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.
ELGIN (1874)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Elgin
- Official number: 135898
- Built: 1874, by L. Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Type: Wooden schooner‑barge (also reported as a lighter)
- Dimensions: Approx. 42.4 m × 7.9 m × 3.7 m (139 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Gross/Net tonnage: ~330 t (330 GRT, 310 NRT) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Date lost: 29 October 1906
- Location: Lake Superior, off Grand Marais, Minnesota
- Cargo: Hay and coal
- Loss of life: None reported
Vessel Type
A wood‑built schooner‑barge, commonly towed by tugs to carry bulk materials. Earlier classified also as a lighter due to cargo-carrying role.
Description
As a schooner‑barge, Elgin lacked its own propulsion, configured for towing. Constructed using typical Canadian timber‑frame methods; her hold was sized for bulk hay and coal. Under tow by tug Crosby, she had minimal deckhouse or accommodations.
History
Launched in 1874 at St. Catharines under Canadian registry. Sometime after sale in August 1885, she was re‑registered under U.S. registry when salvaged near Racine, Wisconsin (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). Owned at time of loss by Captain John Shea, Duluth (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). Primarily served Lake Superior cargo runs in tow.
Final Disposition
On 29 October 1906, while in tow of the tug Crosby near Grand Marais MN, a strong northeast gale swamped the Elgin. She became waterlogged, broke apart, and was “torn to pieces” by the storm. Crew survived; wreck lost at sea (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Located By & Date Found
No recorded discovery of wreckage. No surveys or dives reported; presumed to remain broken and contested on lake bed.
Notmars & Advisories
No specific Notmar or Wreck‑zone advisories found. Mariners advised caution during NE gales in the area — typical seasonal warnings apply.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Elgin” entry (Popular Science, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Wrecksite.eu – brief description matching loss details (wrecksite.eu)
- Wikipedia – list of shipwrecks, includes Elgin mentioning sinking and abandonment near Grand Marais
Conclusion
The Elgin typifies early 20th‑century schooner‑barges lost under tow during seasonal storms. Her loss speaks to operational risks of barge towing in Lake Superior’s volatile weather. Though no dive records exist, her remains may lie scattered with minimal structural integrity.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: schooner‑barge, tug tow, Lake Superior storm, 1906 shipwreck
- Categories: Wooden barges, 19th-century cargo vessels, Upper Great Lakes maritime archaeology
- Glossary: GRT (Gross Register Tonnage), NRT (Net Register Tonnage), lighter, tow.