Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George N
- Type: Propeller tug (wooden hull)
- Year Built: 1905
- Builder: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
- Dimensions: Approximately 55 ft (16.76 m) long × 11 ft; 5 ft depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 10 gross / 7 net tons
- Location: Entered Sturgeon River near L’Anse, MI
- Official Number: 202896
- Original Owners: Marquette, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The George N was a wooden propeller tug designed for towing and harbor operations, primarily serving routes on Lake Superior.
Description
Constructed in 1905, the George N was a small utility tug with a single screw, steam-powered propulsion system. It measured approximately 55 feet in length and had a beam of 11 feet and a depth of 5 feet.
History
The George N was launched from a shipyard in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and entered service likely in Marquette’s towing and harbor operations. On May 10, 1914, while near the mouth of the Sturgeon River, the vessel began taking on water and subsequently sank. The entire crew survived the incident, and there was no reported cargo, indicating it may have been on a positioning or maintenance mission.
Significant Incidents
- May 10, 1914: The George N began taking on water near the mouth of Sturgeon River, leading to its foundering. The vessel sank in relatively shallow waters, and no lives were lost.
Final Disposition
The George N foundered and was lost in the lower Sturgeon River estuary near L’Anse, Michigan. The specifics of the leak that caused the sinking remain unreported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located within the lower Sturgeon River estuary. The depth and condition of the wreck are likely shallow with potential sediment coverage. No modern survey has confirmed the wreck’s existence, and it is not marked as a navigational hazard.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-n-us-202896-2″ title=”References & Links”]
The George N was a small wooden propeller tug that met its end in the Sturgeon River on May 10, 1914. With no casualties reported, the wreck remains a modest yet significant part of the maritime history of Lake Superior.
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: George N
- Official Number: 202896
- Year Built: 1905
- Build Location: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
- Vessel Type: Propeller tug (wooden hull)
- Final Disposition: Foundered
- Date of Loss: May 10, 1914
- Location: Entered Sturgeon River near L’Anse, MI (Lake Superior)
- Home Port: Marquette, Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Took on water and sank (“foundered”)
- Crew/Casualties: No lives lost
- Towage / Cargo: Not specified (no cargo listed) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Now, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Vessel Specifications
- Dimensions: Approximately 55′ long × 11′ beam × 5′ depth
- Tonnage: 10 gross / 7 net tons (small utility tug)
- Propulsion: Single screw, steam-powered tug
Chronology & Operational History
- 1905: Launched from Sault Ste. Marie shipyard, entering service likely in Marquette’s towing and harbor operations.
- May 10, 1914: Began taking on water near the mouth of Sturgeon River. Bowed to foundering; sank in relatively shallow riverine waters. Despite the mishap, the entire crew survived, and there was no reported cargo—suggesting she may have been on a positioning or maintenance mission. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Site & Current Status
- Location: Within the lower Sturgeon River estuary, near L’Anse, MI
- Depth & Condition: Likely shallow water with potential sediment coverage; no modern survey has confirmed the wreck or its existence.
- Navigational Status: Not marked as a hazard; no active notices noted.
Sources & Citations
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “George N” entry (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Conclusion
The George N was a small wooden propeller tug employed on Lake Superior routes out of Marquette. She met her end when taking on water and foundering near L’Anse’s Sturgeon River on May 10, 1914. No casualties occurred, and the vessel was lost in a modest river channel rather than open lake depths. The specifics of the leak remain unreported, and the tug never appeared in subsequent listings.
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Superior, Sturgeon River (L’Anse), MI
- Vessel Type: Wooden tugboat
- Cause of Loss: Foundering (flooding)
- Loss Year: 1914
- Casualties: None
- Dive Status: Not surveyed; potential shallow water wreck in river setting