Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Leland (1906)

The Leland, a wooden propeller tug, was lost to fire in 1916 while transporting lumbermen. All crew survived, but the wreck remains unmarked.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Leland
  • Type: Wood Propeller Fish Tug
  • Year Built: 1906
  • Builder: Leland, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 29 ft x 10 ft x 3 ft; 12 gross / 11 net tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 12 gross / 11 net tons
  • Location: A few miles offshore, Lake Michigan, near Leland

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Small wooden propeller tug, used for commercial fishing.

Description

The wooden propeller tug Leland, built in 1906, was primarily used for transporting lumbermen to South Manitou Island.

History

The Leland illustrates the vulnerability of small wooden vessels engaged in seasonal charter duties and working with primitive onboard systems, such as the high fire risk during engine maintenance.

The large number aboard (17 lumbermen) highlights common practice, as many small boats ferried work crews to isolated logging camps, creating high personnel risk when mechanical issues arose offshore.

Significant Incidents

  • Date: 20 December 1916
  • Location: A few miles offshore, Lake Michigan, near Leland
  • Purpose: On charter to transport lumbermen to South Manitou Island
  • Incident: Caught fire while undergoing engine repairs several miles offshore
  • Outcome: Burned to a total loss; no lives were lost—crew of 17 were safely rescued.

Final Disposition

Destroyed by fire; sank or burned in place and was not recovered. No contemporary salvage or removal occurred, and the remains likely sank and were not charted or marked.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck remains unmarked and undocumented but stands as a testament to small-boat risk during Great Lakes industrial operations.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”leland-1906″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of the Leland serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by small vessels operating in the Great Lakes, particularly in the context of seasonal work and mechanical failures.

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.

Wood Propeller Fish Tug

Final Incident – 20 December 1916, off Leland, Michigan

Fire and Loss Details

  • Date: 20 December 1916
  • Location: A few miles offshore, Lake Michigan, near Leland
  • Purpose: On charter to transport lumbermen to South Manitou Island (S Manitou Isl) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Incident: Caught fire while undergoing engine repairs underway several miles offshore
  • Outcome: Burned to a total loss; no lives were lost—crew of 17 were safely rescued (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Wreck & Aftermath

  • Disposition: Destroyed by fire; sank or burned in place and was not recovered
  • Location Status: No contemporary salvage or removal—remains likely sank and were not charted or marked

Historical Context

  • The Leland illustrates the vulnerability of small wooden vessels engaged in seasonal charter duties and working with primitive onboard systems (e.g., ghastly fire risk during engine maintenance)
  • The large number aboard (17 lumbermen) highlights common practice—many small boats ferried work crews to isolated logging camps—creating high personnel risk when mechanical issues arose offshore

Research & Documentation Opportunities

  • Local Newspapers (Dec–Jan 1916/17)
    • Check Leland Enterprise, Traverse City Record‑Eagle, or Northport News for incident accounts and rescue narratives.
  • Life-Saving Service / U.S. Coast Guard Reports
    • Rescue efforts likely logged by officials based in Leland or Northport during winter 1916.
  • Fishery Association Logs
    • Local fishing cooperatives or charter associations may have recorded the vessel loss and affected crew.

Summary

The wooden propeller tug Leland, built in 1906, was destroyed by fire on 20 December 1916 while chartered to ferry lumbermen to South Manitou Island. Although the vessel was lost offshore, all 17 people aboard survived, with no casualties. The wreck remains unmarked and undocumented but stands as a testament to small‑boat risk during Great Lakes industrial operations.

leland-1906 1916-12-20 23:15:00