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: Not specified
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The George N was a wooden propeller tug designed for towing and harbor operations.
Description
The George N was a small wooden propeller tug, approximately 55 feet long, with a beam of 11 feet and a depth of 5 feet. It was powered by a single screw, steam engine.
History
Launched in 1905 from a shipyard in Sault Ste. Marie, the George N served in towing and harbor operations out of Marquette, Michigan. On May 10, 1914, the vessel began taking on water near the mouth of the Sturgeon River and sank, with no reported cargo on board.
Significant Incidents
- May 10, 1914: The George N took on water and sank near the mouth of the Sturgeon River. The entire crew survived, and no lives were lost.
Final Disposition
The George N foundered in the Sturgeon River, and its wreck has not been confirmed by modern surveys.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is likely in shallow water with potential sediment coverage. It is not marked as a navigational hazard, and no active notices have been noted regarding its status.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-n-us-202896″ title=”References & Links”]
The George N was a small wooden tug that met its end in the Sturgeon River on May 10, 1914, after taking on water. The specifics of the incident remain unclear, and the wreck has not been surveyed in recent years.
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