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.

Propeller Steam Tug – Lake Huron (southwest of Middle Island, Ontario)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Vessel Name: Jay Ochs
• Official Number: 77018 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Type at Loss: Wooden propeller steam tug
• Built: 1888, Huron, Ohio; 54 ft long × 14 ft beam × 3 ft depth; 18 GRT / 11 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Date of Loss: 20 October 1905
• Location: Approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Middle Island, Lake Huron, Ontario (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Cause of Loss: Overwhelmed and foundered in a storm/gale (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Cargo: Not carrying cargo at time of loss
• Fatalities: None reported — crew survived or evacuated safely (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type Description

Jay Ochs was a small wooden-hulled propeller steam tug, typical of late 19th-century Great Lakes harbor/service tugs. Relatively shallow draft and compact dimensions made her suited for towing barges and vessels in coastal or riverine waters.

Incident Description

On 20 October 1905, while operating in Lake Huron near Middle Island, Jay Ochs encountered a severe gale. Unable to withstand the storm’s force, she was overwhelmed by waves and foundered, sinking rapidly. There were no casualties reported, and no cargo aboard at the time (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Operational & Ownership History

• Constructed in 1888 at Huron, Ohio, she served as a tugboat in Great Lakes waters.
• Operated primarily in Harbor or nearshore service — towing barges, assisting other vessels, etc.
• No prior losses or major incidents recorded in available sources.

Final Disposition

Jay Ochs sank on 20 October 1905 and was not salvaged or refloated. The registries list her as a total loss following the storm.

Survey & Wreck Status

• There is no known modern dive survey or archaeological documentation of the wreck site.
• Wreck location remains estimated from historical position near Middle Island, owning to lack of reported rediscovery or survey.

Notices to Mariners & Official Advisories

• None recorded for this vessel. It does not appear in historical hazard bulletins or formal Notices to Mariners.

Research Gaps & Recommendations

• Crew manifest or captain’s name is not documented; maritime newspapers or port records around 1905 (e.g., Ontario Lakes shipping registers) may yield details.
• Operators or owners unclear — potential search in Ohio or Ontario tug registry archives recommended.
• Meteorological data and local ship logs from Middle Island region could provide context on storm severity and circumstances.

Resources & References

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress “O‑Section” entry for Jay Ochs: includes official number, build data, loss details, type of loss, location, and lack of casualties (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary list referencing Jay Ochs among wrecks in Lake Huron area near Middle Island (cataloged under “Jay Ochs 1905”) (NMSThunderBay)

Keywords & Glossary

wooden steam tug, propeller tug, storm foundering, Lake Huron wreck, Middle Island, small harbor service vessel, 1905 gale loss.

Summary

Jay Ochs, an 1888 wooden propeller steam tug of modest size, foundered in a Lake Huron gale on 20 October 1905 approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Middle Island. She was overwhelmed by storm conditions, sinking quickly with no cargo and no reported fatalities. The incident remains sparsely documented, with no known archaeological survey, making her a potential subject for future maritime research. Let me know if you’d like follow‑up on crew identities, contemporary newspaper coverage, or registry documentation.

jay-ochs-us-77018 1905-10-20 12:59:00