Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Forelle
- Type: Steel-hulled fish tug (later “fruit boat”)
- Year Built: 1908
- Builder: Johnston Brothers
- Dimensions: 54.60 ft × 15.80 ft beam × 7.50 ft hold
- Registered Tonnage: 46 gt, 31 nt
- Location: Off Kenosha, Wisconsin in Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: approx. 42°36.637′ N, 87°42.291′ W
- Official Number: 205777
- Original Owners: Cornelius Tamms and Julius Meyer
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Forelle was a steel-hulled fish tug, which later served as a “fruit boat” for transporting perishable cargo along the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1908 by Johnston Brothers in Ferrysburg, Michigan, the Forelle measured 54.60 feet in length, with a beam of 15.80 feet and a hold depth of 7.50 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 46 and a net tonnage of 31.
History
The Forelle was primarily used by the Milwaukee fishing fleet and occasionally operated as a fruit boat during the off-season. It was originally owned by Cornelius Tamms and Julius Meyer, and it conducted fishing runs as far as Green Bay.
Significant Incidents
- On September 19, 1923, the Forelle departed Benton Harbor fully loaded with grapes, bound for Milwaukee.
- A severe gale caused the vessel to founder in Lake Michigan, southwest of Kenosha.
- Wreckage, including fruit baskets and lifejackets, washed ashore between September 22-23, confirming the loss.
- No survivors or hull remains have been located despite searches.
Final Disposition
The Forelle was declared a total loss after foundering, with all six crew members, including Captain Cornelius Tamms, perishing in the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is estimated to be located at a depth of 200-400 feet southwest of Kenosha, near the wreck of the yacht Rosinco. While the wreck has not been definitively identified, the recovery of wreckage suggests it is in proximity to shore. Diving conditions are challenging and require technical expertise.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”forelle-us-205777″ title=”References & Links”]
The Forelle serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by sudden storms on Lake Michigan, particularly for vessels carrying sensitive cargo. Its loss highlights the transition in maritime operations from sail to motor-driven vessels in the Great Lakes.
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
- Vessel Name: Forelle (“trout” in German)
- Official Number: 205777
- Year Built: 1908
- Built At: Ferrysburg, Michigan by Johnston Brothers
- Vessel Type: Steel-hulled fish tug (later “fruit boat”)
- Dimensions: 54.60 ft × 15.80 ft beam × 7.50 ft hold; gross tonnage 46 gt, net tonnage 31 nt (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Final Disposition: Foundered—total loss, full crew lost
- Date of Loss: 20 September 1923
- Location: Off Kenosha, Wisconsin in Lake Michigan (approx. 42°36.637′ N, 87°42.291′ W) (US Data, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Final Cargo: 5,800 packages of grapes from Benton Harbor (Mich.) to Milwaukee (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Casualties: Captain Cornelius Tamms and all five crew members lost (US Data)
Vessel Role & Service History
- A premium vessel for the Milwaukee fishing fleet; sometimes used during off-season as a “fruit boat” on short coastal runs (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Originally owned by Cornelius Tamms and Julius Meyer, operated from Milwaukee, with occasional fishing runs up to Green Bay (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
Final Voyage Overview
- On 19 September 1923, Forelle departed Benton Harbor fully loaded with grapes, heading to Milwaukee; arrival scheduled for 5 a.m. on 20 September (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- A severe overnight gale caused her to founder in Lake Michigan, southwest of Kenosha
- Subsequent wreckage (fruit baskets, lights, lifejackets) washed ashore between 22–23 September, confirming her loss near the Rosinco wreck site (~195 ft deep) (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- No survivors or hull remains have been located despite searches (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
Wreck Site & Dive Potential
- Estimated resting depth: 200–400 ft southwest of Kenosha, near the wreck of yacht Rosinco (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- While the wreck has not been identified, the recovery of wreckage suggests proximity to shore; conditions and depth make diving unlikely without technical expertise
Sources & References
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks database – comprehensive technical data, final toll, and operation role (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- USGenNet & local newspapers (Benton Harbor News-Palladium, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News) provide crew list and storm timeline (US Data)
- Rosinco wreck proximity noted by surveyors and maritime historians
Historical Significance
- Represents the transition from sail to motor-driven fish tugs on the Great Lakes
- Demonstrates fleet versatility—shifting between fishing and freight (fruit) work
- Its disappearance and total loss accentuate the risk of fall Lake Michigan storms, particularly when towing sensitive cargo
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Michigan, off Kenosha, WI
- Vessel Type: Steel fish tug / “fruit boat”
- Cause of Loss: Foundering in gale; non-survivable
- Cargo: Grapes (perishable freight)
- Casualties: 5 lives (no survivors)
- Depth & Dive: ~200–400 ft; deep-water wreck with no known location
- Era: 1908–1923