Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mediator
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (auxiliary sail, under tow)
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Not documented
- Registered Tonnage: Not documented
- Depth at Wreck Site: 6 m / 20 ft
- Location: West of Gratiot River mouth, Keweenaw Peninsula
- Coordinates: N 47° 07.310′, W 088° 33.010′
- Official Number: [Not located]
- Original Owners: Not recorded
- Number of Masts: Retained masts but generally operated without sails
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mediator was a wooden schooner-barge, part of a fleet of vessels adapted for towing service by steamers. These vessels were primarily used for transporting bulk cargo such as lumber and iron ore under tow.
Description
The Mediator was built in 1862 and was loaded with lumber on her final voyage from Duluth to Chicago. She was designed to be towed and did not have independent propulsion.
History
On September 18, 1898, the steamer Kalkaska departed Duluth with the J.H. Mead and Mediator in tow. A violent gale struck Lake Superior, causing the towlines to part and leaving both barges adrift. They grounded about one mile west of the Gratiot River mouth, with the crews escaping without loss of life, but both vessels were declared total losses.
Significant Incidents
- September 18, 1898: The Mediator was lost during a storm when the towline parted, leading to grounding and destruction near the Gratiot River.
Final Disposition
The Mediator was grounded and destroyed in storm-driven seas near the Gratiot River on September 18, 1898. The vessel was declared a total loss, with some wreckage remaining in shallow water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck has been known since the time of loss in 1898. Some wreckage persists in shallow water (20 ft) near the shore, but no formal archaeological survey has been conducted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mediator-1862″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the wreck site is possible via shore or small boat from the Gratiot River area. Divers should be aware of cold water conditions and variable visibility.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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