Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: M.C. Neff
- Type: Wood-hulled bulk carrier (tug-barge style)
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Approximately 137 ft (41.76 m) long × 29 ft (8.84 m) beam × 10 ft (3.05 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 276 gross / 211 net tons
- Location: St. Louis River, Lake Superior, just south of the Interstate Transfer railroad bridge near Duluth
- Coordinates: Approximately 500 ft south of the Interstate Transfer RR bridge, 50 ft offshore
- Original Owners: Thompson & Lavaque Lumber Co. of Duluth
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wood-hulled bulk carrier designed in a tug-barge style, primarily used for transporting timber and other bulk materials.
Description
The M.C. Neff was a wooden bulk carrier built in 1888, measuring approximately 137 feet in length, with a beam of 29 feet and a depth of 10 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 276 gross tons and 211 net tons. The vessel was owned by the Thompson & Lavaque Lumber Company based in Duluth, Minnesota.
History
The M.C. Neff was primarily used for transporting timber, specifically pilings for bridge projects. On September 20, 1909, after completing unloading operations on the Wisconsin bank of the St. Louis River, a fire broke out within the vessel’s hull. The fire escalated quickly and could not be contained, leading to the vessel burning down to the waterline and subsequently sinking at its dock.
Significant Incidents
- September 20, 1909: A fire ignited in the vessel’s interior shortly after unloading, resulting in the vessel burning down to the waterline and sinking.
- No loss of life was reported during the incident.
Final Disposition
The M.C. Neff burned completely and sank at her mooring in the St. Louis River. While some machinery was salvaged, the hull was lost. The wreck reportedly lies approximately 50 feet off the east shore, about 500 feet south of the Interstate Transfer railroad bridge.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No extensive modern archaeological or dive surveys have been documented for the M.C. Neff. Some machinery salvage occurred shortly after the fire, and the hull was visible or semi-submerged in shallow water for a time, though it has likely deteriorated or been removed over the years.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”m-c-neff-1888″ title=”References & Links”]
The M.C. Neff serves as a historical example of the risks associated with dockside fires and has seen limited archaeological tracking since its loss. Further exploration of local archives or a modern survey may yield additional insights into its history and condition.
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.
(built 1888; lost September 20, 1909)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Year built: 1888, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Vessel type: Wood-hulled bulk carrier (tug-barge style)
- Dimensions: Approximately 137 ft long × 29 ft beam × 10 ft depth; 276 gross / 211 net tons
- Owner: Thompson & Lavaque Lumber Co. of Duluth
- Loss date: September 20, 1909
- Loss location: St. Louis River, Lake Superior, just south of the Interstate Transfer railroad bridge on the western side near Duluth
Cargo & Operational Context
- Cargo: Pilings (timber) for a bridge project
- The vessel had completed unloading operations on the Wisconsin bank when fire broke out deep within her hull overnight (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Circumstances of Loss
- Shortly after unloading, a fire ignited in the vessel’s interior.
- The fire intensified rapidly and could not be contained; lines were cut and she burned down to the waterline and sank at her dock. A portion of machinery was salvaged, but the hull was lost.
- No loss of life was reported (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
- The M.C. Neff burned completely and sank at her mooring. Debris remained near the shore; machinery salvage was partial.
- The wreck reportedly lies just 50 ft off the east shore, approximately 500 ft south of the Interstate Transfer RR bridge in the St. Louis River (Wrecksite, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Survey & Legacy Status
- No extensive modern archaeological or dive surveys are noted; some machinery salvage occurred shortly after the fire.
- The hull remained visible or semi-submerged in shallow water following the incident, though likely deteriorated or removed over time.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | M.C. Neff |
| Built | 1888, Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
| Type | Wood bulk carrier/tug-barge |
| Dimensions | ~137 × 29 × 10 ft; 276 gt / 211 nt |
| Owner | Thompson & Lavaque Lumber Co., Duluth |
| Cargo | Pilings (timber) |
| Loss Date | September 20, 1909 |
| Loss Location | St. Louis River near Duluth, Lake Superior |
| Cause | Fire while unloading at dock |
| Crew & Casualties | None reported |
| Final Status | Burned to waterline, sank; machinery partially salvaged |
| Wreck Location | ~500 ft S of Interstate Transfer RR bridge, 50 ft offshore |
Research Notes & Summary
- Vessel specification and loss data are based on the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files and Wisconsin Shipwrecks database, supported by localized incident reporting and marine heritage documentation (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wrecksite, Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
- Fire apparently originated after daily unloading operations, indicating possible ignition from embers, spontaneous combustion in stored timber, or mechanical heat sources. No official fire investigation reports survive in original summary.
- Because the wreck remained in shallow river waters, salvage operations may have removed most surface wreckage over time.
Next Steps & Recommendations
- Local archives or newspapers from September 1909 (e.g. Duluth News Tribune) may contain eyewitness accounts, insurance filings, or investigation reports.
- Corporate records from Thompson & Lavaque Lumber Co. might include vessel logs, cargo manifests, or correspondence regarding the fire.
- Port authority or harbor logs may document salvage or later removal of wreck remains.
- Site retention: A limited dive or remote sonar survey today may locate remnants or confirm machinery remains near the documented coordinates.
Conclusion
M.C. Neff was a small wooden bulk vessel built in 1888 and owned by a Duluth lumber company. On September 20, 1909, after unloading pilings for a bridge project, she suffered a catastrophic fire and was lost at dock. The hull sank just offshore in the St. Louis River, but the crew was unharmed. It remains an example of dockside conflagration risk and saw limited archaeological tracking. Let me know if you’d like assistance exploring newspaper archives, salvage records, or a modern survey plan.
m-c-neff-1888 1909-09-20 20:11:00