Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: International
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: O’Grady & Maher, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: 80.66 ft (24.6 m) × 26.33 ft (8.0 m) × 7.33 ft (2.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 144.07 gross; 100.65 net
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
- Location: Portage Entry, White City, Michigan
- Coordinates: N 46° 58.970′, W 088° 25.840′
- Official Number: 100453
- Original Owners: M. Carroll, Houghton, MI (1913)
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The International was classified as a wooden-hulled propeller steamer, designed for versatility in various maritime roles.
Description
The International was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed in Buffalo, New York, in 1889 by O’Grady & Maher. At just over 80 feet in length, she was designed as a multipurpose vessel, small enough for harbor and government work but also adaptable for passenger excursions. Over her career, she alternated between service roles including harbor towing, excursion operations, and occasional cargo carriage.
History
- 1889 (Sep 14) – Enrolled at Buffalo, NY; employed at Sault Ste. Marie in government service.
- 1891 – Owned by Charles Ripley, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
- 1893 (May) – Carried excursion passengers to the Chicago World’s Fair.
- 1893 (Nov 24) – Stranded at Round Island Point, opposite Mackinac Island.
- 1899 – Owned by Frank Perry.
- 1904 – Grounded near Hay Lake while carrying an excursion party; successfully freed.
- 1913 (Nov 2) – Owned by M. Carroll, Houghton, MI. Burned at dock at White City, Portage Entry, Lake Superior, and declared a total constructive loss.
Significant Incidents
The International was reported to have burned at her moorings on November 2, 1913, with no casualties reported. The local press noted the incident as a total loss.
Final Disposition
The International burned to a total loss at her moorings at Portage Entry, White City, MI, on November 2, 1913. The wreck remains in shallow water (~10 ft) just off the dock site. No lives were lost.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has been locally known since its destruction in 1913. Remains lie visible in shallow water at 46° 58.970′N, 88° 25.840′W. No current Notices to Mariners are issued for the wreck area, but wreckage may pose hazards to small craft inshore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”international-us-100453″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the wreck is possible via shore dive from White City beach. The site offers good visibility in calm weather, with a sandy bottom and a depth of approximately 10 ft (3 m). Local charters and facilities are available for dive support.
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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: 100453
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
Builder: O’Grady & Maher, Buffalo, New York
Year Built: 1889
Dimensions: 80.66 ft (24.6 m) × 26.33 ft (8.0 m) × 7.33 ft (2.2 m)
Tonnage: 144.07 gross; 100.65 net
Home Port: Marquette, Michigan (original)
Cargo on Final Voyage: None (moored at dock)
Date of Loss: 2 November 1913
Cause of Loss: Fire at dock
Final Location: Portage Entry, White City, Michigan, Lake Superior
Coordinates: N 46° 58.970′, W 088° 25.840′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: ~10 ft (3 m)
Owners: M. Carroll, Houghton, MI (1913)
Crew: Not aboard at time of fire
Casualties: None reported
Description
The International was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed in Buffalo, New York, in 1889 by O’Grady & Maher. At just over 80 feet in length, she was designed as a multipurpose vessel, small enough for harbor and government work but also adaptable for passenger excursions. Over her career, she alternated between service roles including harbor towing, excursion operations, and occasional cargo carriage.
History
- 1889 (Sep 14) – Enrolled at Buffalo, NY; employed at Sault Ste. Marie in government service.
- 1891 – Owned by Charles Ripley, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
- 1893 (May) – Carried excursion passengers to the Chicago World’s Fair.
- 1893 (Nov 24) – Stranded at Round Island Point, opposite Mackinac Island.
- 1899 – Owned by Frank Perry.
- 1904 – Grounded near Hay Lake while carrying an excursion party; successfully freed.
- 1913 (Nov 2) – Owned by M. Carroll, Houghton, MI. Burned at dock at White City, Portage Entry, Lake Superior, and declared a total constructive loss.
Final Disposition
The International burned to a total loss at her moorings at Portage Entry, White City, MI, on November 2, 1913. The wreck remains in shallow water (~10 ft) just off the dock site. No lives were lost.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has been locally known since its destruction in 1913. Remains lie visible in shallow water at 46°58.970′N, 88°25.840′W.
Notmars & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners issued for the wreck area. Wreckage is shallow and non-navigational but may pose hazards to small craft inshore.
Dive Information
Access: Shore dive possible from White City beach
Entry Point: Portage Entry, White City
Conditions: Shallow site, good visibility in calm weather; sandy bottom
Depth Range: 10 ft (3 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Station Portage, MI
Permits: Required for artifact removal under Michigan law
Dive Support: Local charters and facilities available in Houghton and Hancock
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties reported in the loss of the International. No dedicated memorials identified.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The propeller International, owned at Houghton, was burned at White City dock on Sunday evening and is considered a total loss.” — Local press, November 1913.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 100453.
Enrolled Buffalo, NY (1889).
Listed owners included Charles Ripley (1891), Frank Perry (1899), and M. Carroll (1913).
Insurance status at time of loss unknown.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Remains lie in ~10 ft of water, visible offshore near White City. Local divers and heritage groups have noted the burned hull timbers. To date, no detailed photogrammetry or archaeological survey has been published.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Chronicling America – Historical Newspapers
- Michigan EGLE – Underwater Preserves
References
- U.S. Enrollment Records, Official Number 100453.
- Maritime casualty reports, November 1913.
- Chronicling America newspaper coverage of Michigan maritime losses, 1913.
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NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: 100453
Coordinates: N 46° 58.970′, W 088° 25.840′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
Location Description: Portage Entry, White City, MI, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Propeller steamer
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 80.66 × 26.33 × 7.33 ft; 144.07 gross tons
Condition: Burned remains, shallow water
Cause of Loss: Fire at dock, 2 Nov 1913
Discovery Date: 1913 (loss known at time)
Discovered By: N/A
Method: Local wreck report
Legal Notes: Protected under Michigan Antiquities Act
Hazards: Shallow burned hull near shore
Permits Required: Yes, for survey or recovery