Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Geo. Steele
- Type: wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Asa B. Wilcox
- Dimensions: ~137 × 26 × 10 ft; 271 GRT / 257 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 271 GRT / 257 NRT
- Location: Offshore reef, Oscoda, Michigan
- Official Number: 10211
- Original Owners: Out of Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wood-hulled, two-deck schooner built for Great Lakes trade, likely transporting grain, lumber, or bulk cargo.
Description
The Geo. Steele, also known as George Steele, was constructed in 1855 and had a robust service life, including a rebuild in 1878 and major repairs in 1883. It was registered out of Chicago.
History
Initially built for Great Lakes trade, the Geo. Steele experienced a significant service life, indicating active use into its late years. The vessel’s final voyage was marked by a common hazard in mid-Lake Huron, where it ran aground during a gale.
Significant Incidents
- Struck Date: October 14, 1898
- Location: Ran onto an inshore reef near Oscoda, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Incident: Driven onto reef by heavy gale; remained in place and broke up on October 22, 1898
- Casualties: None reported
Final Disposition
The Geo. Steele grounded on a reef in mid-October and shattered over eight days of relentless wave action. No salvage or hull recovery followed; the wreck was abandoned in situ and confirmed lost.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is confirmed lost with no reported injuries or fatalities. It remains in situ, having broken up over the reef.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”geo-steele-us-10211″ title=”References & Links”]
Research opportunities include exploring insurance and salvage records, local newspaper archives from October 1898, and shipping agent logs that may provide further insights into the vessel’s final days.
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.
(wooden schooner, 1855–1898)
- Also Known As: George Steele
- Official No.: 10211
- Built: 1855 by Asa B. Wilcox in Three Mile Bay, NY
- Dimensions: ~137 × 26 × 10 ft; 271 GRT / 257 NRT
- Construction: Wood-hulled, two-deck schooner
- Registry: Out of Chicago; rebuilt in 1878 and underwent major repairs in 1883 (turn0search1)
Final Voyage & Wreck – October 1898
- Struck Date: October 14, 1898
- Location: Ran onto an inshore reef near Oscoda, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Incident: Driven onto reef by heavy gale; remained in place and broke up on October 22, 1898
- Cargo: Not recorded at sinking
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Career & Service History
- Initially built for Great Lakes trade, likely transporting grain, lumber, or bulk cargo under Chicago registration
- Experienced a robust service life, including rebuilding in 1878 and major repairs in 1883—indicating active use into late service
- Final voyage meets a common mid‑Lake Huron weather hazard: shoal grounding under gale-force winds followed by structural breaking in place
Wreck & Salvage Status
- Grounded on reef in mid‑October and shattered over eight days of relentless wave action
- No salvage or hull recovery followed; the wreck was abandoned in situ and confirmed lost
- No reported injuries or fatalities
Documentation & Sources
- Detailed record from Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: “Driven on an inshore reef by gale and broke up in place on the 22nd”
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1855, Three Mile Bay, NY |
| Official Number | 10211 |
| Tonnage | 271 GRT / 257 NRT |
| Wreck Date | Oct 14, 1898 (grounded); Oct 22, 1898 (broke up) |
| Location | Offshore reef, Oscoda, Michigan, Lake Huron |
| Cause | Gale-force storm |
| Casualties | None |
| Aftermath | Broke up over reef—no salvage |
Suggested Research Opportunities
- Insurance and Salvage Records: Chicago underwriter documents post‑1898 may contain claim details, reef position reports, or valuations
- Newspaper Archives (Oct 1898): Local papers like Oscoda Press and Tawas Herald likely covered the wreck and harbor response
- Tow/Repair Logs: Shipping agent logs in Oscoda/Mio may note intended cargo and salvage attempts