Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary Martini
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1877
- Builder: F. Wheeler
- Dimensions: 85 ft × 19 ft × 6 ft; 91 gross register tons (76 net)
- Registered Tonnage: 91 gross register tons (76 net)
- Location: Brule Point, ~13 miles east of Grand Marais, Minnesota
- Official Number: 90978
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Propeller-driven wooden steamer configured for passenger and package-freight service.
Description
The Mary Martini was a modest 85-ft propeller-driven passenger and package freight steamer built in 1877. It was designed for service on Lake Superior, primarily operating between Marquette and Duluth.
History
Built in 1877 at West Bay City, Michigan, by F. Wheeler, the Mary Martini was hull number 1 of the shipyard. It served in the transportation of passengers and freight across Lake Superior until its loss in 1885.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 23 December 1885 — a clear, calm winter day.
- Location of Loss: Stranded on Brule Point, about 13 miles east of Grand Marais, Minnesota, along the Lake Superior North Shore.
- Cause of Loss: Navigational error — the vessel went aground in fair weather and could not be re-floated.
- Outcome: Became a total wreck; passengers and crew were evacuated safely by the Duluth tug T. H. Camp.
- Documents were surrendered at Duluth on 30 December 1885, marking registry closure.
Final Disposition
The Mary Martini was declared a total loss after grounding. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated, and the vessel’s enrollment was formally surrendered in Duluth.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known underwater survey, dive site report, or rediscovery exists. The wreck likely lies aground near Brule Point, heavily damaged or disintegrated by ice and wave action through winter exposures.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-martini-us-90978″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Mary Martini illustrates the perils of late-season winter navigation on Lake Superior, even in calm weather conditions. The wreck remains undocumented today, highlighting the need for further exploration and research into its 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.
(built 1877; wrecked 23 December 1885)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary Martini (no prior names recorded)
- Official Registry Number: 90978 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Built: 1877 at West Bay City, Michigan by F. Wheeler; hull number 1 (Wikipedia)
- Specifications: 85 ft × 19 ft × 6 ft; 91 gross register tons (76 net) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Lake: Superior (operated between Marquette and Duluth)
Vessel Type
- Propeller-driven wooden steamer configured for passenger and package-freight service (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Incident
- Date of Loss: 23 December 1885 — a clear, calm winter day (greatlakesdrive.com)
- Location of Loss: Stranded on Brule Point, about 13 miles east of Grand Marais, Minnesota, along the Lake Superior North Shore (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause of Loss: Navigational error — the vessel went aground in fair weather and could not be re-floated (greatlakesdrive.com)
- Outcome: Became a total wreck; passengers and crew were evacuated safely by the Duluth tug T. H. Camp (greatlakesdrive.com)
- Documents were surrendered at Duluth on 30 December 1885, marking registry closure (greatlakesdrive.com)
Casualties
- No loss of life recorded. All aboard evacuated successfully (greatlakesdrive.com)
Located By & Wreck Condition
- No known underwater survey, dive site report, or rediscovery. The wreck would lie aground near Brule Point, likely heavily damaged or disintegrated by ice and wave action through winter exposures.
Notices & Advisories
- No official Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins remain known. Incident is primarily recorded in regional shipwreck registries and secondarily in Boatnerd.com/Great Lakes Drive records (Wikipedia, greatlakesdrive.com)
Resources & Archival References
- Great Lakes Drive entry (“Mary Martini – Passenger & Package Freight 1877–1885”): detailed incident summary of navigational error, crew rescue, and registry surrender (greatlakesdrive.com)
- GL Shipwreck Files WordPress (“M – Great Lakes Shipwreck Files”): listed build specs and date/location of loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Lake Superior shipwreck records noting loss off North Shore locations (e.g. Richter, Isle Royale, Liberty also listed similarly) (GitLab)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Mary Martini |
| Official No. | 90978 |
| Built | 1877, West Bay City, MI |
| Type | Wooden propeller steamer, passenger/package freight |
| Size | 85 × 19 × 6 ft; 91 GRT / 76 NRT |
| Date of Loss | 23 December 1885 (clear, fair weather) |
| Loss Location | Brule Point, ~13 mi E of Grand Marais, MN |
| Cause | Navigational error leading to grounding |
| Casualties | None (passengers/crew evacuated safely) |
| Rescue | By Duluth tug T. H. Camp |
| Registry Status | Enrollment surrendered at Duluth on 30 Dec |
| Modern Rediscovery | None known |
Research Gaps & Suggested Avenues
Some details remain undocumented in secondary sources:
- Master and crew names, and passenger identities
- Ownership and shipping company records
- Local newspaper accounts: Duluth-era or North Shore journals (e.g., Grand Marais Pilot, Duluth News Tribune) from December 1885 may include eyewitness testimony or technical narratives
- Insurance or Lloyd’s claims for vessel valued at ~US$X ($ operational)
- HCGL / Bowling Green registration archives for master identity or vessel enrollment details
Archival follow-up could include searching the Duluth and Marquette maritime logs, period newspapers, or port records held by local historical societies or maritime museums.
Conclusion
The Mary Martini was a modest 85-ft propeller-driven passenger and package freight steamer built in 1877. On 23 December 1885, while navigating Lake Superior’s North Shore in calm conditions, she grounded due to navigational error near Brule Point and was declared a total loss. There were no fatalities; passengers and crew were rescued by the tug T. H. Camp, and the vessel’s enrollment was formally surrendered in Duluth.
Her loss illustrates the perils of late-season winter navigation on Lake Superior—even in calm weather conditions—and the North Shore’s navigational hazards. The wreck remains undocumented today.
Let me know if you’d like help locating crew lists, newspaper archive retrieval, or technical registry files for deeper archival insight.
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