Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Exile US 8183

Explore the wreck of the Exile, a wooden schooner-barge lost in a storm in 1916, located south of Sturgeon Point in Lake Huron.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Exile
  • Type: Wooden schooner-barge (formerly a 3-masted schooner, later a 2-masted barge for bulk freight)
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: Kelley in Milan, completed in Huron, Ohio
  • Dimensions: 152 ft (46.33 m) length × 30 ft (9.14 m) beam × 11 ft (3.35 m) depth
  • Registered Tonnage: 387 GRT / 368 NRT
  • Location: Approximately 7 miles south of Sturgeon Point
  • Official Number: 8183
  • Number of Masts: 2 (formerly 3)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Exile was a wooden schooner-barge, originally built as a 3-masted schooner and later converted to a 2-masted barge for bulk freight transport.

Description

Constructed in 1867, the Exile measured 152 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. It was registered at 387 gross tons and 368 net tons. The vessel was designed for the transportation of bulk freight across the Great Lakes.

History

The Exile had a service history typical of wooden vessels of its time, transitioning from a sailing schooner to a barge. It was involved in various freight operations until its final voyage under tow.

Significant Incidents

  • On November 25, 1916, during a late-November storm, the towline of the Exile parted, leaving the vessel powerless and adrift.
  • It was driven ashore south of Sturgeon Point, where it wrecked on the rocks, resulting in the hull being shattered by wave action.
  • No casualties were reported, as the crew was safely evacuated.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Exile was deemed a total loss after being pounded to pieces by the storm. The remains are likely scattered along the shoreline near Sturgeon Point.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The probable wreck area is characterized by a shallow but exposed rock coast typical of the region. Divers can expect to find heavily fragmented wooden wreckage, including ribs, planking, and iron fasteners.

Resources & Links

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The destruction of the Exile marks the end of a durable 19th-century vessel, highlighting the dangers of late-season storms on Lake Huron. Continued archival research and field surveys could yield significant insights into historical towing practices and vessel construction.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Exile
  • Official Number: 8183
  • Type: Wooden schooner-barge (formerly a 3-masted schooner, later a 2-masted barge for bulk freight)
  • Built: 1867 by Kelley in Milan, completed in Huron, Ohio
  • Dimensions: 152 ft length × 30 ft beam × 11 ft depth, 387 GRT / 368 NRT
  • Final Voyage: Six-masted barge under tow (tow vessel unspecified)
  • Loss Date: November 25, 1916
  • Location: Approximately 7 miles south of Sturgeon Point, Lake Huron
  • Cause of Loss: Storm—broke towline and was driven ashore, where she was pounded to pieces
  • Casualties: None reported—crew safely evacuated (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, beavertaillight.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Incident & Final Disposition

During a late-November storm, Exile‘s towline parted. With limited maneuverability and powerless, she was driven ashore south of Sturgeon Point and wrecked on the rocks. The hull was shattered by wave action, ultimately deemed a total loss. No crew fatalities are recorded (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Tow Vessel Identification
    • The steamer/tug that had been towing Exile is not named; tow logs or maritime records from port departure logs may clarify.
  • Master & Crew Details
    • No crew names or manifests have been located. Investigate Great Lakes crew registries or enrollment documents.
  • Cargo Manifest
    • The nature of the freight carried (e.g., coal, grain) has not been recorded.
  • Weather & Storm Analysis
    • Weather telemetry and NOAA archives for November 1916 would clarify storm intensity and expected conditions at Sturgeon Point.
  • Salvage or Inquiry Records
    • No known marine court or insurance claims surface; local newspapers (Alpena, Rogers City) or Lake Huron harbor master logs may contain relevant first-hand accounts.

Wreck & Field Survey Potential

  • Probable Wreck Area: Shoreline near Sturgeon Point; shallow but exposed rock coast typical of that region.
  • Remains: Expect heavily fragmented wooden wreckage, ribs, planking, and iron fasteners dispersed along the lee coast.
  • Survey Strategy:
    • Use side-scan sonar and magnetometer along 2–3 miles south of Sturgeon Point to locate concentrations of metal.
    • Shoreline and nearshore dives to document structural fragments at low tide.
    • Historical chart review to pinpoint likely grounding location in relation to 1916 bathymetry.

Historical & Archaeological Significance

  • As a 49-year-old working schooner-barge in 1916, Exile is a rare survivor of vintage wooden hull engineering from the 1860s era.
  • Her loss underscores the danger of late-season storm activity on Lake Huron and reveals practices of towing barges with powered vessels prior to full steamship dominance.
  • Documenting her remnants could provide valuable material culture information on wooden barge construction, repair practices, and the transition from sail to steam logistics.

Recommended Next Steps

  • Archive and Newspaper Research
    • Review Alpena Argus, Rogers City Review, and Detroit Free Press archives (November–December 1916).
    • Request National Archives records for U.S. Customs enrollment and manifest (District of Lake Huron).
  • Tow Vessel Logs
    • Identify shipping routes and potential tow vessels departing from Lake Huron ports in mid-November 1916.
  • Field Survey Plan
    • Collaborate with local maritime archaeologists for targeted remote sensing off Sturgeon Point.
    • Conduct preliminary shoreline surveys with divers or drone imaging.
  • Community Engagement
    • Connect with Michigan Underwater Preserve, Alpena Maritime Heritage Society, and local diving clubs for logistical support.

Conclusion

The Exile‘s destruction marks the end of a durable 19th-century schooner-barge, finally succumbing to the elements off Sturgeon Point in 1916. Pursuing archival documentation and field survey work has strong potential to both pinpoint the site and recover invaluable evidence of historic Great Lakes towing practices and vessel endurance.

exile-us-8183 1916-11-25 13:35:00