Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Chassell (formerly Echo)
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: J.W. Church at Sugar Island, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 51 ft (15.5 m); Beam 10 ft (3.0 m); Depth of hold 3 ft (0.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 18
- Location: Portage Entry, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 75352
- Original Owners: Sheldon Brothers of Portage Lake, Michigan
- Number of Masts: Single screw
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug, later adapted for passenger service. Designed for towing and light harbour work, later used as an excursion boat. Originally outfitted with a screw propeller and powered by a small steam engine.
Description
The vessel was typical of mid-19th-century auxiliary steam tugs—wood construction, single screw, low freeboard, and compact pilot facilities. In 1867, an octagonal pilot house was added, a distinguishing feature for small craft of the period.
History
- 1868: Built and launched as ECHO for general towing duties.
- 1867 (chronologically appears earlier): Received octagonal pilot house modification.
- 1870: Acquired by Sheldon Brothers of Portage Lake, Michigan; renamed JOHN CHASSELL and used as an excursion steamer in the Portage Lake area.
- 1876 (October 23): Destroyed by fire at Portage Entry. Estimated loss valued at $4,000. No lives lost.
Significant Incidents
- 23 October 1876: Destroyed by fire at Portage Entry, Lake Superior. No casualties reported.
Final Disposition
Total loss due to fire while at Portage Entry, Lake Superior. No cargo aboard. Vessel was completely destroyed.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has not been located. No GPS coordinates are known, and no remains are identified in the Michigan shipwreck databases or diver reports.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-chassell-echo-us-75352″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
JOHN CHASSELL, originally ECHO, was a modest but versatile steam tug that transitioned into passenger service in Michigan’s Keweenaw region. Its destruction by fire in 1876 at Portage Entry closed the brief but notable career of a vessel representative of early wooden screw tugs. Though no wreck has been found, its story reflects the transitional maritime landscape of the post-Civil War Great Lakes.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): ECHO (1868), renamed JOHN CHASSELL (1870)
- Official Number: 75352
- Built: 1868 by J.W. Church at Sugar Island, Michigan
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Length: 51 ft (15.5 m)
- Beam: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Depth: 3 ft (0.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 18
- Final Location: Portage Entry, Lake Superior
- GPS Coordinates: Unknown
- Date Lost: 23 October 1876
- Cause: Fire
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug, later adapted for passenger service. Designed for towing and light harbour work, later used as an excursion boat. Originally outfitted with a screw propeller and powered by a small steam engine.
Description
The vessel was typical of mid-19th-century auxiliary steam tugs—wood construction, single screw, low freeboard, and compact pilot facilities. In 1867, an octagonal pilot house was added, a distinguishing feature for small craft of the period.
History
- 1868: Built and launched as ECHO for general towing duties.
- 1867 (chronologically appears earlier): Received octagonal pilot house modification.
- 1870: Acquired by Sheldon Brothers of Portage Lake, Michigan; renamed JOHN CHASSELL and used as an excursion steamer in the Portage Lake area.
- 1876 (October 23): Destroyed by fire at Portage Entry. Estimated loss valued at $4,000. No lives lost.
Final Disposition
Total loss due to fire while at Portage Entry, Lake Superior. No cargo aboard. Vessel was completely destroyed.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has not been located. No GPS coordinates are known, and no remains are identified in the Michigan shipwreck databases or diver reports.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. The site is unmarked and not recognized as a navigational hazard.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
JOHN CHASSELL, originally ECHO, was a modest but versatile steam tug that transitioned into passenger service in Michigan’s Keweenaw region. Its destruction by fire in 1876 at Portage Entry closed the brief but notable career of a vessel representative of early wooden screw tugs. Though no wreck has been found, its story reflects the transitional maritime landscape of the post-Civil War Great Lakes.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Wooden steam tug • Propeller • Portage Entry • Keweenaw Peninsula • Sheldon Brothers • Fire loss • Excursion boat • Lake Superior shipwreck.
john-chassell-echo-us-75352 1876-10-23 07:49:00