Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

J. B. Newland C 103820 (US 75366)

Explore the remains of the J. B. Newland, a wooden schooner wrecked in 1910, located in shallow waters east of South Manitou Island.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J. B. Newland
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: G. Henderson
  • Dimensions: 111 × 26 × 8 ft; approx. 158 gross / 150 net tonnage
  • Registered Tonnage: 158 gross / 150 net
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
  • Location: East of South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 75366
  • Original Owners: U.S. and later Canadian interests
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Two‑Masted Schooner – Lake Michigan, East of South Manitou Island

Description

The J. B. Newland was a mid-sized, two-masted wooden schooner typical of Great Lakes coastal service vessels in the late nineteenth century. Built in Manitowoc in 1870, she primarily carried lumber and bulk freight, particularly in the Michigan and Wisconsin trades. Her modest dimensions made her maneuverable for shoal waters but vulnerable to sudden storms or heavy weather.

History

On 8 September 1910, J. B. Newland encountered heavy fog and blizzard conditions east of South Manitou Island. The vessel struck bottom and was driven ashore. Although initially declared a probable total loss, she was subsequently salvaged by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Tuscarora and returned to service under new registry in Canada (Canadian registry no. 103820) in 1914. Her registry was officially closed in March 1922; her hull was towed and scuttled off Kingston, Ontario in 1929.

Significant Incidents

  • Loss Date: 8 September 1910
  • Cause of Loss: Wrecked in fog and blizzard conditions; went ashore
  • Casualties: None among six aboard

Final Disposition

Although the vessel was initially declared lost in 1910, she was salvaged and re-registered under Canadian registry (103820) in 1914. Removed from the Canadian shipping list in 1922, she was subsequently towed to deep water off Kingston, Ontario, and scuttled in 1929.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Visible in shallow water: her remains lie in a 10-foot-deep scour surrounded by roughly 4 ft of lake water on North Manitou Shoal—a shallow, diver-accessible site ideal for snorkelers and beginning divers. The site was noted in 1994 to have zebra mussel colonization; current conditions may differ.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-b-newland-c-103820-us-75366″ title=”References & Links”]

The J. B. Newland, a wooden schooner built in 1870 in Manitowoc, WI, was driven ashore in fog and blizzard conditions on 8 September 1910 east of South Manitou Island. Although initially deemed a total loss, salvagers rescued her; she was later registered under Canadian ownership and served until being scuttled in 1929. Her remains lie in a shallow 10-foot scour—an accessible and preserved wreckage site noted by dive authorities. No lives were lost in the incident.

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 Two‑Masted Schooner – Lake Michigan, East of South Manitou Island

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J. B. Newland (official no. 75366) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Year & Place Built: 1870 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by G. Henderson (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Type: Wooden schooner (lumber trade)
  • Dimensions (registered): 111 × 26 × 8 ft; approx. 158 gross / 150 net tonnage (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Date of Loss: 8 September 1910
  • Location: East of South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
  • Cause of Loss: Wrecked in fog and blizzard conditions; went ashore
  • Casualties: None among six aboard (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Description

The J. B. Newland was a mid‑sized, two‑masted wooden schooner typical of Great Lakes coastal service vessels in the late nineteenth century. Built in Manitowoc in 1870, she primarily carried lumber and bulk freight, particularly in the Michigan and Wisconsin trades. Her modest dimensions made her maneuverable for shoal waters but vulnerable to sudden storms or heavy weather. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Incident Summary

On 8 September 1910, J. B. Newland encountered heavy fog and blizzard conditions east of South Manitou Island. The vessel struck bottom and was driven ashore. Although initially declared a probable total loss, she was subsequently salvaged by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Tuscarora and returned to service under new registry in Canada (Canadian registry no. 103820) in 1914. Her registry was officially closed in March 1922; her hull was towed and scuttled off Kingston, Ontario in 1929. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

History & Ownership

  • Registration: Official U.S. number 75366
  • Construction: 1870, Manitowoc (G. Henderson)
  • Service: Primarily engaged in the lumber and freight trade on Lake Michigan between Wisconsin and Michigan ports
  • Ownership & Fate: After being salvaged post-1910, the vessel was sold to Canadian interests in 1914, remained registered until 1922, and was finally scuttled in 1929 in Canadian waters. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition

Although the vessel was initially declared lost in 1910, she was salvaged and re‑registered under Canadian registry (103820) in 1914. Removed from the Canadian shipping list in 1922, she was subsequently towed to deep water off Kingston, Ontario, and scuttled in 1929. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Wreck Location & Survey

  • Visible in shallow water: her remains lie in a 10‑foot‑deep scour surrounded by roughly 4 ft of lake water on North Manitou Shoal—a shallow, diver‑accessible site ideal for snorkelers and beginning divers. (National Park Service)
  • The site was noted in 1994 to have zebra mussel colonization; current conditions may differ. (Leelanau)

Notmars & Advisories

  • None recorded in official Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins relating directly to this wreck.

Research Gaps & Suggestions

  • Crew and Master Identity: Records from U.S. or Canadian registration or salvaging logs may list her master or crew.
  • Insurance & Sale Documentation: Investigation of maritime insurer archives or Canadian registry logs (1914–1922) may reveal more detail about her end‑of‑life handling.
  • Local Newspaper Coverage: Contemporary press (e.g., Manitou Island or Chicago papers) may provide eyewitness accounts about the wreck and salvage.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“N‑section”) – detailed entry on J. B. Newland summarizing loss, salvage, registry data, crew status, sale, and scuttling (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • National Park Service / Leelanau County diving guide – site description for recreational divers, confirms location and shallow water depth (National Park Service)

Keywords & Categories

Wooden schooner, 1910 storm wreck, North Manitou Island, fog/blizzard loss, U.S. Revenue Cutter Tuscarora salvage, Canadian registry conversion, recreational dive site.

Summary

The J. B. Newland, a wooden schooner built in 1870 in Manitowoc, WI, was driven ashore in fog and blizzard conditions on 8 September 1910 east of South Manitou Island. Although initially deemed a total loss, salvagers rescued her; she was later registered under Canadian ownership and served until being scuttled in 1929. Her remains lie in a shallow 10‑foot scour—an accessible and preserved wreckage site noted by dive authorities. No lives were lost in the incident.

j-b-newland-c-103820-us-75366 1929-09-08 13:38:00