Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Joe Milton C 94712

Explore the wreck of the Joe Milton, a wooden fish tug lost in 1904 near Summer Island, Lake Superior, after striking a reef and succumbing to a gale.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Joe Milton
  • Type: Wooden propeller fish tug and passenger boat
  • Year Built: 1891
  • Builder: Wood
  • Dimensions: Not specified
  • Registered Tonnage: Not specified
  • Location: Near Summer Island, Lake Superior
  • Coordinates: Not documented
  • Official Number: C94712
  • Original Owners: Not specified
  • Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller fish tug and passenger boat.

Description

The Joe Milton was built in 1891 in Port Stanley, Ontario, by the shipyard known as ‘Wood’. It served primarily as a fish tug and a small passenger vessel on Lake Huron.

History

Built in 1891 and operating on Lake Huron, the Joe Milton served both fishing and passenger needs. On June 13, 1904, she struck a reef (likely Summer Island), which broke her key structural arch supports. After taking on water, she was left beached or tied in place, but a subsequent gale tore her to pieces—a total loss. Reports suggest she wrecked quickly during the storm.

Significant Incidents

  • June 13, 1904: Struck a reef, damaging her hull and leading to a leak.
  • Subsequent gale forces destroyed the vessel, resulting in a total loss.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss after being torn apart by gale forces. No salvage efforts were documented, and the remains were abandoned on or near Summer Island’s shore.

Current Condition & Accessibility

While her wreck is recorded, no precise charted location or GPS coordinates have been documented. It’s presumed her remains lie scattered on or near Summer Island, Lake Superior.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”joe-milton-c-94712″ title=”References & Links”]

The Joe Milton, a wooden fish tug and passenger boat built in 1891, was lost on June 13, 1904, after striking a reef (likely near Summer Island), taking on water, and being destroyed by a gale. No crew casualties are recorded, but the vessel was broken up and abandoned. Her remains remain uncharted and serve as a maritime warning near reef-strewn waters.

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 & Site Information

Name: Joe Milton
Built: 1891, Port Stanley, Ontario (by shipyard “Wood”)
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller fish tug and passenger boat
Official Number: C94712
Dimensions & Tonnage: Not specified in available records
Usage: Served as a fish tug and small passenger vessel on Lake Huron

Final Loss Details
Date Lost: June 13, 1904
Location: Likely off Summer Island, near Isle Royale, Lake Superior
Cause: Struck a reef (“broke her arches”) damaging her hull; a leak followed, and a gale wrecked and broke her apart
Crew & Casualties: None reported; the vessel was destroyed, but details on crew survival are unclear

History & Final Voyage
Built in 1891 and operating on Lake Huron, the Joe Milton served both fishing and passenger needs. On June 13, 1904, she struck a reef (likely Summer Island), which broke her key structural arch supports. After taking on water, she was left beached or tied in place, but a subsequent gale tore her to pieces—a total loss. Reports suggest she wrecked quickly during the storm.
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Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after being torn apart by gale forces. No salvage efforts were documented, and the remains were abandoned on or near Summer Island’s shore.

Located By & Date Found
While her wreck is recorded, no precise charted location or GPS coordinates have been documented. It’s presumed her remains lie scattered on or near Summer Island, Lake Superior.

Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers exist. Summer Island and surrounding reefs are known hazard zones in nautical charts; mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area.

Resources & Links

Conclusion
The Joe Milton, a wooden fish tug and passenger boat built in 1891, was lost on June 13, 1904, after striking a reef (likely near Summer Island), taking on water, and being destroyed by a gale. No crew casualties are recorded, but the vessel was broken up and abandoned. Her remains remain uncharted and serve as a maritime warning near reef-strewn waters.

joe-milton-c-94712 1904-06-13 22:49:00