Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Magdalena
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller tug
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Sutton & Bros., Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length 48 ft (14.6 m); Beam 12 ft (3.7 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 19 GRT / 13 NRT
- Location: Driven ashore at Grant’s Island, North Channel, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71115
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug later used for towing barges and assisting larger vessels in harbours. Compact and agile, yet vulnerable to heavy weather in exposed offshore areas.
Description
Built in Buffalo and later sold to operate out of Collingwood, Ontario (registered Canadian, 1878). Employed primarily for tugs, she braved coastal waters of Lake Huron. On 16 November 1888, Magdalena sought refuge near Grant’s Island during a storm but was suctioned ashore and heavily damaged—wrecked beyond repair.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss; wreckage left in place. No salvage recorded, and the vessel was never rebuilt due to extensive damage from striking surf and rocks.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological or diving surveys have definitively located the wreck. References to Grant’s Island suggest a probable beaching zone, though the site remains unverified by modern surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”magdalena-c-71115″ title=”References & Links”]
The Magdalena‘s wreck serves as a reminder of small tug vulnerabilities during sudden Lake Huron storms. Her grounding at Grant’s Island highlights how even shore-seeking vessels can be overwhelmed by gale-force conditions.
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: Magdalena
- Built: 1875, by Sutton & Bros., Buffalo, New York
- Official Number: C71115
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled propeller tug
- Dimensions: 14.6 m × 3.7 m × 1.8 m (48′ × 12′ × 6′); 19 GRT / 13 NRT
- Cargo at Loss: None aboard
- Crew: None lost
- Date Lost: 16 November 1888
- Final Location: Driven ashore at Grant’s Island, North Channel, Lake Huron
- Cause: Gale-force storm, driven onto the shore and total wreck (trove.nla.gov.au, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug later used for towing barges and assisting larger vessels in harbours. Compact and agile, yet vulnerable to heavy weather in exposed offshore areas.
Description & History
Built in Buffalo and later sold to operate out of Collingwood, Ontario (registered Canadian, 1878). Employed primarily for tugs, she braved coastal waters of Lake Huron. On 16 November 1888, Magdalena sought refuge near Grant’s Island during a storm but was suctioned ashore and heavily damaged—wrecked beyond repair.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss; wreckage left in place. No salvage recorded, and the vessel was never rebuilt due to extensive damage from striking surf and rocks.
Located By & Date Found
No archaeological or diving surveys have definitively located the wreck. References to Grant’s Island suggest a probable beaching zone, though the site remains unverified by modern surveys.
Notations & Advisories
No current navigational charts mark the wreck site. However, local mariners should use caution near Grant’s Island in heavy weather, as debris or submerged timber might surface after storms.
Conclusion
The Magdalena‘s wreck serves as a reminder of small tug vulnerabilities during sudden Lake Huron storms. Her grounding at Grant’s Island highlights how even shore-seeking vessels can be overwhelmed by gale-force conditions.
Suggested Keywords: Magdalena tug 1888 storm wreck, Grant’s Island grounding, Lake Huron tug losses
Categories:
- Lake Huron shipwrecks
- 19th-century tugs
- storm-driven wrecks
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Magdalena” (registry details, loss description) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)