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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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