Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Magnet
- Type: Wooden-hulled tug or towing vessel; later used as a schooner-barge for bulk freight
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: S. Kirby & Hoyt, Saginaw, Michigan
- Dimensions: 145 ft (44 m) × 23 ft (7 m) × 10 ft (3 m); 217 GRT / 206 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 217 GRT / 206 NRT
- Location: Approximately 1 mile northeast of Middle Sister Island, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 91497
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A tug-turned-schooner-barge utilised for carrying bulk freight. The Magnet, originally a steam-powered tug, became part of the broader Great Lakes towing network—an economical method for transporting coal, ore, and other goods without a dedicated engine.
Description
Built in 1856, the Magnet featured a wood hull with a side-wheel design. By 1900, she was serving as a barge under steam tow, carrying coal or similar bulk freight. Her size and configuration enabled flexible deployment in towing operations, though they offered little autonomy if adrift.
History
On 12 September 1900, while under tow from Frank E. Kirby, the Magnet encountered a fierce storm about 1 mile NE of Middle Sister Island on Lake Erie. The tow line broke, and the barge was driven ashore and foundered in the storm. Thankfully, the crew were rescued by Frank E. Kirby, designed by Frank E. Kirby’s son, making the rescue ironically tied to the vessel’s designer legacy.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded during a storm on 12 September 1900.
- All crew members were rescued by the towing vessel Frank E. Kirby.
Final Disposition
The Magnet was abandoned after grounding; her hull likely broke apart shortly thereafter. No salvage or recovery efforts were documented, and the wreck remains in shallow water near the island.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no modern dive records or permanent archaeological documentation. However, the shipwreck’s approximate site is known based on historical records and location description.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”magnet-us-91497″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of Magnet on 12 September 1900 exemplifies the perils faced by unpowered barges operating under tow during sudden Great Lakes storms. Ironically, the rescuing steamer bore the designer’s namesake—a personal twist in lake towing history. Although forgotten underwater, Magnet marks a representative case of storm-related barge losses in Lake Erie’s early merchant age.
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: Magnet
- Built: 1856, S. Kirby & Hoyt, Saginaw, Michigan — originally as a side-wheel tug (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Official Number: 91497
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled tug or towing vessel; later used as a schooner-barge for bulk freight (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Dimensions: 44 m × 7 m × 3 m (145′ × 23′ × 10′); 217 GRT / 206 NRT (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo at Loss: Coal (carrying none at time of incident)
- Crew at Loss: None — all rescued
- Date Lost: 12 September 1900
- Final Location: Approximately 1 mile northeast of Middle Sister Island, Lake Erie
- Towage: Being towed by the steamer Frank E. Kirby at time of incident
Vessel Type
A tug-turned-schooner-barge utilised for carrying bulk freight. The Magnet, originally a steam-powered tug, became part of the broader Great Lakes towing network—an economical method for transporting coal, ore, and other goods without a dedicated engine.
Description
Built in 1856, the Magnet featured a wood hull with a side-wheel design. By 1900, she was serving as a barge under steam tow, carrying coal or similar bulk freight. Her size and configuration enabled flexible deployment in towing operations, though they offered little autonomy if adrift.
History & Loss
On 12 September 1900, while under tow from Frank E. Kirby, the Magnet encountered a fierce storm about 1 mile NE of Middle Sister Island on Lake Erie. The tow line broke, and the barge was driven ashore and foundered in the storm. Thankfully, the crew were rescued by Frank E. Kirby, designed by Frank E. Kirby’s son, making the rescue ironically tied to the vessel’s designer legacy (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, meanderingmichiganhistory.weebly.com).
Final Disposition
The Magnet was abandoned after grounding; her hull likely broke apart shortly thereafter. No salvage or recovery efforts were documented, and the wreck remains in shallow water near the island.
Located By & Date Found
There are no modern dive records or permanent archaeological documentation. However, the shipwreck’s approximate site is known based on historical records and location description.
Notations & Advisories
No navigational hazard markers have been placed at the wreck site. Shallow debris from the grounding may pose localized risk to small-craft operators near Middle Sister Island.
Conclusion
The loss of Magnet on 12 September 1900 exemplifies the perils faced by unpowered barges operating under tow during sudden Great Lakes storms. Ironically, the rescuing steamer bore the designer’s namesake—a personal twist in lake towing history. Although forgotten underwater, Magnet marks a representative case of storm-related barge losses in Lake Erie’s early merchant age.
Suggested Keywords: Magnet, schooner-barge, storm grounding, Middle Sister Island wreck, Frank E. Kirby rescue
Categories:
- Lake Erie shipwrecks
- Barge losses under tow
- Storm-induced maritime incidents
Resources & Links
- Meandering Michigan History: Describes the grounding NE of Middle Sister Island, 1900, and crew rescue by Frank E. Kirby (meanderingmichiganhistory.weebly.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, npshistory.com, youtube.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Magnet”: Official loss summary, build details, tonnage, and incident particulars (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)