Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James Dempsey
- Type: Wooden lumber schooner or tug
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Manistee, Michigan (lumber docks)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden lumber schooner or tug (exact vessel type unconfirmed but likely engaged in overnight cargo operations at the lumber docks of Manistee).
Description
No detailed construction dimensions recorded. As a vessel built in 1883, James Dempsey would have been constructed with timber planking and fastened machinery typical for small Great Lakes working craft of the late 19th century.
History
- 1883: Launched and entered service in the lumber trade.
- 10 December 1922: Docked overnight at Manistee lumber docks. While moored, James Dempsey was destroyed by a sudden and intense dock fire. All 15 individuals aboard evacuated safely; no casualties reported.
Significant Incidents
- 10 December 1922: The vessel was destroyed by a fire while moored at the lumber docks in Manistee, Michigan.
Final Disposition
- Cause: Fire while moored
- Outcome: Total loss
- Details: The fire consumed the vessel before her crew could salvage valuable equipment or fittings.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No physical remains are known to survive. The charred hull was likely dismantled as a fire hazard or salvaged for usable components. No modern wreck site exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-dempsey-1883″ title=”References & Links”]
The James Dempsey‘s end by fire while moored at a lumber dock exemplifies the common risk of wooden vessels in close proximity to flammable shore operations. Though entirely lost, the safe evacuation of all aboard suggests sound emergency response and crew efficiency. Today, the event remains a footnote in the annals of Great Lakes maritime fires.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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