Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Marinette
- Type: Wooden, 3-masted schooner barge
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: J. Martel, Saugatuck, Michigan
- Dimensions: 176 ft (53.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 505 GRT
- Location: Near Frankfort, Michigan
- Official Number: 90766
- Original Owners: Henry N. Loud & Co., Oscoda, Michigan
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Three-masted wooden schooner barge
Description
The Marinette was a 176-foot (53.6 m) wooden schooner barge constructed in 1873 by shipbuilder J. Martel in Saugatuck, Michigan. Designed for the lumber trade, she was part of the Menominee Barge Line Co. fleet based in Milwaukee. In August 1886, ownership transferred to Henry N. Loud & Co. of Oscoda, Michigan. The Marinette was primarily employed in transporting lumber across the Great Lakes, often in tow of steam barges.
History
On November 18, 1886, the Marinette and her sister ship, the Menekaunee, were being towed by the steam barge Manistique from Oscoda to Chicago, carrying a combined cargo of 1.25 million board feet of lumber. They encountered a severe northwest gale that intensified over three days. By early morning on November 19, the towline broke near the Manitou Islands, leaving both schooners adrift. The Marinette suffered significant damage: her rudder was unshipped, she sprung a leak, and became waterlogged. The deckload shifted, destroying the rails and bulwarks, and the mainmast collapsed, taking down the foremast and mizzenhead. Captain William F. Mitchell was washed overboard and lost.
Significant Incidents
At approximately 10:30 PM, the Marinette struck the shore near Frankfort, Michigan. Of the seven crew members aboard, six perished, including the cook, Mary, and her 13-year-old daughter, Minnie. The sole survivor, C.W. Annis, managed to reach shore and was cared for by a local family.
Final Disposition
In September 2015, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA) documented a large shipwreck just north of the Arcadia channel, visible on aerial maps. The wreck features a prominent keelson measuring approximately 172 feet (52.4 m) in length and 4 feet (1.2 m) in width. While the exact identity remains unconfirmed, the dimensions and location suggest it could be either the Marinette or the Menekaunee.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories related to the wreck of the Marinette documented in the accessible sources.
Resources & Links
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The Marinette‘s tragic loss during the fierce November gale of 1886 highlights the perils faced by Great Lakes mariners in the 19th century. The potential identification of her wreck near Arcadia offers a tangible connection to this maritime history, though definitive confirmation remains pending.
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