Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Fred A Morse US 9980

Explore the wreck of the Fred A Morse, a three-masted schooner that sank in 1892 in Lake Huron, lying at a depth of approximately 200 feet.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Fred A. Morse
  • Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1871
  • Builder: J.W. Nicholas
  • Dimensions: Length 182.3 ft (55.6 m); Beam 31.3 ft (9.5 m); Depth of hold 12.8 ft (3.9 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 592 gt
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 61 m / 200 ft
  • Location: Approximately 12 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island
  • Official Number: 9980
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A large three-masted schooner built for bulk cargo transport, likely featuring traditional fore-and-aft sails and spacious holds suited for heavy materials like iron ore.

Description

The Fred A Morse was a wooden schooner constructed in 1871, designed for the transportation of bulk cargo. It was equipped with three masts and primarily relied on wind power for propulsion.

History

  • 1871 (Sep 28): Lost her centreboard in Lake Huron.
  • 1873 (Nov): Went ashore in Little Traverse Bay, Michigan; abandoned.
  • 1874: Salvaged by tug Gladiator and repaired.
  • 1881: Underwent reconstruction in Cleveland; thereafter towed by A. Everett in Lake Superior ore trade.
  • 1882: Significant repairs carried out.
  • 1885: Operated towing by John N. Glidden.
  • 1892 (Jun 27): Collided with propeller-driven John A. Pringle while in tow of steamer Horace A. Tuttle, sank approximately 12 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron.

Significant Incidents

  • 1871: Lost her centreboard in Lake Huron.
  • 1873: Went ashore in Little Traverse Bay, Michigan; abandoned.
  • 1892: Collided with John A. Pringle and sank.

Final Disposition

  • Date: 27 June 1892
  • Location: Lake Huron, about 12 miles (19 km) SE of Thunder Bay Island
  • Depth: Approximately 200 ft (61 m)
  • Fate: The schooner sank following the collision; likely intact on the bottom.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies at a depth of approximately 200 feet southeast of Thunder Bay Island. While coordinates appear in secondary sources, NOAA or Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary records do not explicitly list the Fred A. Morse. There may be unidentified vessels on the sanctuary site at comparable depths.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”fred-a-morse-us-9980″ title=”References & Links”]

A resilient three-masted schooner, Fred A. Morse faced numerous incidents yet remained operational for two decades. Its final demise in a collision under tow in 1892 left her resting deep in Lake Huron. Hers is likely a forgotten wreck among the sanctuary’s deeper, undiscovered fleet—representing a compelling target for technical divers and maritime archaeologists equipped for cold, deep-water exploration.

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: Fred A. Morse
  • Official Number: 9980
  • Built: 1871, Vermilion, Ohio by J.W. Nicholas
  • Vessel Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
  • Hull Materials: Wood, single deck
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 182.3 ft (55.6 m)
    • Beam: 31.3 ft (9.5 m)
    • Depth: 12.8 ft (3.9 m)
    • Gross Tonnage: 592 gt
    • Net Tonnage: 563 nt

Vessel Type

A large three‑masted schooner built for bulk cargo transport, likely featuring traditional fore-and-aft sails and spacious holds suited for heavy materials like iron ore.

Propulsion

Wind-powered via three large sails on successive masts; no auxiliary engine noted.

History

  • 1871 (Sep 28): Lost her centreboard in Lake Huron.
  • 1873 (Nov): Went ashore in Little Traverse Bay, Michigan; abandoned.
  • 1874: Salvaged by tug Gladiator and repaired.
  • 1881: Underwent reconstruction in Cleveland; thereafter towed by A. Everett in Lake Superior ore trade.
  • 1882: Significant repairs carried out.
  • 1885: Operated towing by John N. Glidden.
  • 1892 (Jun 27): Collided with propeller-driven John A. Pringle while in tow of steamer Horace A. Tuttle, sank approximately 12 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron.

Final Disposition

  • Date: 27 June 1892
  • Location: Lake Huron, about 12 miles (19 km) SE of Thunder Bay Island
  • Depth: Approximately 200 ft (61 m)
  • Fate: The schooner sank following the collision; likely intact on the bottom.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck lies at depth (~200 ft) southeast of Thunder Bay Island. While coordinates appear in secondary sources, NOAA or Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary records do not explicitly list the Fred A. Morse. There may be unidentified vessels on the sanctuary site at comparable depths (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, thunderbaywrecks.com, upnorthlive.com).

Diving & Exploration

At 200 ft, the Fred A. Morse lies beyond typical recreational limits and enters advanced technical diving territory. No documented dive expeditions or confirmed identifications appear in public databases. The possibility remains that she is among the numerous unidentified shipwrecks recorded by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary .

Notmars & Advisories

No Notmar or navigational hazards are officially indicated for this wreck. Chart markers may be absent due to depth.

Conclusion

A resilient three‑masted schooner, Fred A. Morse faced numerous incidents yet remained operational for two decades. Its final demise in a collision under tow in 1892 left her resting deep in Lake Huron. Hers is likely a forgotten wreck among the sanctuary’s deeper, undiscovered fleet—representing a compelling target for technical divers and maritime archaeologists equipped for cold, deep-water exploration.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Large schooner • Iron ore trade • Tow operations • Deep-water wreck • Thunder Bay Island region • Technical diving • Maritime collision • Lake Huron shipwreck

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