Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Frank G. Geele
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Likely in Michigan or Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: string
- Location: Lake Michigan — likely near northern Michigan or Wisconsin shore
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: string
- Original Owners: Operated by Barry Line, based in Michigan
- Number of Masts: string
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner engaged in general freight trade, primarily transporting coal and lumber.
Description
The Frank G. Geele was a wooden cargo schooner built in 1872, likely in the Michigan or Wisconsin region. At the time of her loss, she was empty and upbound to a loading port.
History
Operated by Barry Line, the Frank G. Geele was involved in the transportation of various goods across Lake Michigan. The vessel’s operational history is not extensively documented, but it was known for its role in the general freight trade.
Significant Incidents
- On August 28, 1887, while underway and heading upbound toward a northern port, the Frank G. Geele caught fire. The blaze spread rapidly, leading to the vessel burning down to the water’s edge, indicating a complete hull loss.
- There were three crew members aboard at the time of the fire, and fortunately, none perished.
Final Disposition
The Frank G. Geele was totally destroyed by fire and subsequently abandoned. There was no salvage, registration reinstatement, or reconstruction of the vessel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no known modern dive surveys or wreck identifications for the Frank G. Geele. Given the circumstances of the fire, it is likely that the remains sank in deep water or burned ashore and deteriorated.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”frank-g-geele-1872″ title=”References & Links”]
The Frank G. Geele represents a late-19th-century cargo schooner that met a tragic end due to fire while navigating Lake Michigan. Despite the loss, all crew members survived. The wreck remains unlocated and undocumented in modern databases, with limited records available regarding its registry and the fire’s origin.
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.
(built 1872; lost August 28, 1887)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Frank G. Geele (wooden cargo schooner)
- Year Built: 1872, likely in Michigan or Wisconsin
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner engaged in general freight trade (coal, lumber, etc.)
- Loss Date: August 28, 1887
- Location: Lake Michigan — likely near northern Michigan or Wisconsin shore
- Cargo: None at time of fire (described as “none”; vessel was upbound to loading port)
- Ownership: Operated by Barry Line, based in Michigan
Circumstances of Loss
- While underway and heading upbound toward a northern port, Frank G. Geele caught fire. The blaze spread rapidly.
- She burned down to the water’s edge, indicating complete hull loss.
- No additional details regarding the fire’s origin are preserved.
- Casualties: Three crew aboard; none perished.
Final Disposition
- The vessel was totally destroyed by fire and abandoned.
- No salvage, registration reinstatement, or reconstruction occurred.
Wreck Status
- There are no known modern dive surveys or wreck identifications. Given the fire, remains likely sank in deep water or burned ashore and deteriorated.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Frank G. Geele |
| Built | 1872, Michigan/Wisconsin region |
| Vessel Type | Wooden cargo schooner |
| Cargo at Loss | None (empty, upbound) |
| Loss Date | August 28, 1887 |
| Loss Location | Lake Michigan, northern routes |
| Cause of Loss | Fire while underway |
| Crew & Casualties | 3 aboard; none lost |
| Outcome | Burned to waterline; destroyed |
| Wreck Located | Not documented |
Research Notes & Suggested Next Steps
- Registry and crew records: Absent from indexed summaries; vessel official number, master’s name, and port of registry remain unknown.
- Fire origin: No surviving detail — whether mechanical, cargo-related, or accidental.
- Local reports: Ports such as Sault Ste. Marie, Marquette, or near-Upper-Peninsula ports may have period newspaper coverage of the loss.
- Company records: Barry Line shipping logs (if archived) could note vessel specifications and loss.
- Wreck recovery or reconstruction: None documented — indicates total loss without salvage.
Conclusion
Frank G. Geele was a late-19th-century cargo schooner operating on Lake Michigan. On August 28, 1887, the vessel caught fire while upbound and burned completely, though all crew survived. No detailed records exist regarding registry, master, or fire origin. Her wreck remains unlocated and undocumented in modern databases.
If you’d like assistance in pinpointing regional newspaper archives (e.g., Escanaba, Ontonagon, Sault Ste. Marie) or exploring company or port archives for deeper detail, I’m happy to help.
frank-g-geele-1872 1887-08-28 22:39:00