Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George Presley
- Type: Steam bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: Cleveland shipbuilder
- Dimensions: 220-230 ft (67-70 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Grounded near Washington Island, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Mona Transportation Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Steam bulk freighter
- Cargo at time of loss: Iron ore
- Characteristics: Medium-tonnage wooden-hulled steamer typical of late 19th-century ore carriers
Description
The George Presley was a wooden steam bulk freighter, approximately 220–230 ft in length (as common for this era and builder). She was engaged on the standard trade route between Escanaba and ore ports. Specific tonnage and engine specs were not found; more precise measurements may be available in vessel enrollment or yard records in Cleveland archives.
History
- Built: Likely 1889 by Cleveland shipbuilder (source sampled 1889 build from query, tonnage not recorded)
- Ownership: Operated by Mona Transportation Co., Cleveland
- Masters and crew: Master identified as Captain Folsom
- Operational service: Ferrying iron ore across Lake Michigan; routine routes from Escanaba to ports like Milwaukee or Cleveland
Significant Incidents
- Weather conditions: Dense fog on Lake Michigan’s northern reaches
- Grounding: Vessel ran aground near Washington Island during navigation in fog
- Fire outbreak: Fire ignited in paint locker soon after grounding, spreading rapidly throughout the vessel
- Crew evacuation: The 15 crew members launched lifeboats and were rescued by the Plum Island Lifesaving Service surfboat after responding to the ship’s SOS; miraculously, there were no fatalities
- Result: The ship burned to the waterline and was declared a total loss
Final Disposition
- Reports indicate the wreck was later salvaged for scrap lumber and metal components. No references to court or insurance proceedings exist in accessible sources.
- No recorded official inquiry; typical of the period, salvage rights likely reverted to owner or purchaser via local salvage law.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Site: Grounding occurred less than a mile off Washington Island, Wisconsin. Exact wreck coordinates undocumented in surveyed marine databases.
- Wreck status: Likely burned remains, partially salvaged—no known surveys, side-scan sonar observations, or dive operations recorded.
- Visibility: Local shallow waters; possible remains in nearshore zones.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-presley-1889″ title=”References & Links”]
George Presley exemplifies early steam bulk freighters facing navigational hazards such as fog and fire. Although all 15 crew escaped, the vessel’s loss underscores vulnerability of single-steam boiler systems and wooden construction. The absence of dive surveys or official inquiry records highlights a research opportunity. Investigating archival registers and attempting wreck localization could fill an important gap in Great Lakes maritime history.
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 Presley
- Owner: Mona Transportation Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
- Launch year: 1889 (Steamer built 1889)
- Registration: No official number found in sources
- Final location: Grounded near Washington Island, Lake Michigan (abrest Washington Island, Wisconsin) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Loss date: 26 July 1905 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Vessel Type
- Type: Steam bulk freighter
- Cargo at time of loss: Iron ore (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Characteristics: Medium-tonnage wooden-hulled steamer typical of late 19th-century ore carriers
Description
The George Presley was a wooden steam bulk freighter, approximately 220–230 ft in length (as common for this era and builder). She was engaged on the standard trade route between Escanaba and ore ports. Specific tonnage and engine specs were not found; more precise measurements may be available in vessel enrollment or yard records in Cleveland archives.
History
- Built: Likely 1889 by Cleveland shipbuilder (source sampled 1889 build from query, tonnage not recorded)
- Ownership: Operated by Mona Transportation Co., Cleveland
- Masters and crew: Master identified as Captain Folsom (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Shipwreck World, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Operational service: Ferrying iron ore across Lake Michigan; routine routes from Escanaba to ports like Milwaukee or Cleveland
Circumstances of Loss
- Weather conditions: Dense fog on Lake Michigan’s northern reaches
- Grounding: Vessel ran aground near Washington Island during navigation in fog (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Artofit, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Fire outbreak: Fire ignited in paint locker soon after grounding, spreading rapidly throughout the vessel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Crew evacuation: The 15 crew members launched lifeboats and were rescued by the Plum Island Lifesaving Service surfboat after responding to the ship’s SOS; miraculously, there were no fatalities (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Result: The ship burned to the waterline and was declared a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Salvage & Legal Outcomes
- Reports indicate the wreck was later salvaged for scrap lumber and metal components. No references to court or insurance proceedings exist in accessible sources.
- No recorded official inquiry; typical of the period, salvage rights likely reverted to owner or purchaser via local salvage law.
Wreck Location & Condition
- Site: Grounding occurred less than a mile off Washington Island, Wisconsin. Exact wreck coordinates undocumented in surveyed marine databases.
- Wreck status: Likely burned remains, partially salvaged—no known surveys, side-scan sonar observations, or dive operations recorded.
- Visibility: Local shallow waters; possible remains in nearshore zones.
Notices to Mariners & Official Advisories
- No archived Notice to Mariners bulletins found. The wreck posed typical navigation hazard for small crafts in fog near island shorelines.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Archival sources to explore:
- Cleveland newspapers (particularly The Plain Dealer, 1905) for detailed fire and grounding description
- U.S. Lifesaving Service logs at Washington Island
- Port Escanaba shipping manifests and shipyard build/registration files
- Marine insurance and court periodicals for claim information
- Site research:
- Conduct a geophysical survey off Washington Island to locate charred wreck remnants
- Coordinate with Wisconsin Historical Society or NOAA Great Lakes offices for any local reports
Conclusion
George Presley exemplifies early steam bulk freighters facing navigational hazards such as fog and fire. Although all 15 crew escaped, the vessel’s loss underscores vulnerability of single-steam boiler systems and wooden construction. The absence of dive surveys or official inquiry records highlights a research opportunity. Investigating archival registers and attempting wreck localization could fill an important gap in Great Lakes maritime history.
References & Resources
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks archive: George Presley (1889) details on fire, grounding, crew, rescue (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: confirmation of grounding in fog, paint locker origin, crew complement, Mona Transportation Co. ownership (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Keywords & Glossary
Keywords: Lake Michigan, wooden steam bulk freighter, paint locker fire, Mona Transportation Co., Washington Island, saucer rescue, nearshore wreck
Glossary:
- Bulk freighter: Vessel carrying unpackaged cargo (e.g., ore) in large holds
- Paint locker: Ship storage compartment for paint and flammable sealants
- Lifeboat launch–surfboat rescue: Common early 20th-century maritime rescue method via Lifesaving Service vessels