Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Marold II (formerly steam yacht LaBelle; Official No. 208565)
- Type: Steel-hulled diesel ferry/salvage vessel
- Year Built: 1911
- Builder: Dialogue & Sons, Camden, New Jersey
- Dimensions: ~122 × 19 × 10 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 283 GRT / 181 NRT
- Location: Simmons Reef, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 208565
- Original Owners: Alexander Winton; later operated by Beaver Island Transit Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steel-hulled diesel ferry/salvage vessel.
Description
The Marold II was originally built as a private yacht named LaBelle in 1911. It was constructed by Dialogue & Sons in Camden, New Jersey, for Alexander Winton. After World War I, it was converted into a ferry and later operated by the Beaver Island Transit Company.
History
The Marold II served various roles throughout its life, transitioning from a private yacht to a ferry and salvage vessel. Its service history includes missions related to fuel recovery and transportation in the Great Lakes region.
Significant Incidents
- Date: January 1, 1937
- Mission: Siphoning gasoline from the stranded tanker J. Oswald Boyd at Simmons Reef, Lake Michigan.
- Disaster: A massive explosion occurred while the Marold II was lashed to the Boyd, resulting in flames and significant structural damage.
- Crew: All five crew members were killed in the blast.
- Causes: Likely ignition of gasoline vapors in the engine room, as assessed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Final Disposition
The J. Oswald Boyd remained partially intact after the explosion, with gasoline still frozen in its tanks. Local salvage efforts followed. Bodies of two crew members were recovered, while others were never found. The incident is memorialized at Whiskey Point on Beaver Island and is referenced in local folklore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site at Simmons Reef in Lake Michigan has not been sonar-mapped to date. The condition of the wreck is described as fragmented, with a twisted superstructure and debris from fuel barrels scattered around.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”marold-ii-labelle-us-208565″ title=”References & Links”]
The tragedy of the Marold II serves as a significant reminder of the dangers associated with fuel recovery operations on the Great Lakes, marking a pivotal moment in local maritime history.
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: Marold II (formerly steam yacht LaBelle; Official No. 208565)
- Built: 1911, by Dialogue & Sons, Camden, New Jersey, as a private yacht for Alexander Winton; converted to ferry/subchaser post–World War I; later operated by Beaver Island Transit Company
- Type: Steel-hulled diesel ferry/salvage vessel
- Dimensions & Tonnage: ~122 × 19 × 10 ft; 283 GRT/181 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Explosion
- Date: January 1, 1937
- Mission: Siphoning gasoline from the stranded tanker J. Oswald Boyd at Simmons Reef, Lake Michigan
- Disaster: A massive explosion ripped through the Marold II while lashed to the Boyd. She burst into flames and became engulfed, her deck and structure violently displaced—even slamming parts onto the Boyd’s deck (Free Library).
- Crew: All five crew members—brothers Everett (36) and Raymond (33) Cole, Captain Ludlow L. Hill (83), his son Leon Hill, and Bruce McDonough—were killed in the blast (Interlochen Public Radio).
- Causes: Likely ignition of gasoline vapors infiltrated into the engine room, per U.S. Coast Guard assessment (Interlochen Public Radio).
Salvage & Aftermath
- The J. Oswald Boyd remained partially intact with gasoline still frozen in tanks; gasoline salvage by locals followed (Lost In Michigan).
- Bodies of Everett and Raymond Cole were recovered aboard the Boyd; others, including the captain and Bruce McDonough, were never found (jvdl.info).
- The tragic event is memorialized at Beaver Island’s Whiskey Point, and recounted in folk songs such as The Wreck of the Marold (The Library of Congress).
Archival & Research Gaps
- Technical Salvage Logs: Full records from Beaver Island Transit Company on prior siphoning attempts.
- CG Investigation: U.S. Coast Guard case report outlining sequence and recommendations.
- Eyewitness Testimony: Personal accounts and news coverage from local press (Isle Royale–Beaver Island–Lower Peninsula).
- J. Oswald Boyd’s Records: Impact detail on salvage, refloating attempts, and eventual scrapping.
Wreck & Artifact Potential
- Wreck Site: Simmons Reef in Lake Michigan—not sonar-mapped to date.
- Wreck Condition: Fragmented steel hull and twisted superstructure mixed with debris of fuel barrels—likely extensive surface wreckage.
- Survey Proposal:
- Archive analysis to identify precise position of the explosion.
- Side-scan sonar survey of Simmons Reef perimeters.
- ROV dive documentation to map structural remnants and gasoline barrel scatter.
Significance
The Marold II tragedy marks one of the worst civilian gasoline salvage disasters on the Great Lakes. It highlights inherent environmental and safety risks of vessels in peril undergoing fuel recovery and stands as a memorial to a lost ferry crew—etched into local heritage and folklore.
Recommended Next Steps
- Request U.S. Coast Guard investigative file for Jan 1937 incident.
- Examine Beaver Island Historical Society archives for company logs and crew info.
- Access local newspapers (Charlevoix County Herald, Petoskey News) for first-hand disaster accounts.
- Organize underwater survey of Simmons Reef to document wreckage and evaluate preservation status.