Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mike Doherty
- Type: Wooden cargo barge/scow
- Year Built: c. 1899
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Not specified; typical Great Lakes scow dimensions, likely under 100 tons
- Registered Tonnage: Not documented
- Location: Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: exact coordinates unknown
- Official Number: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Mike Doherty was likely a wooden cargo barge or scow—unpowered and towed by tug—which transported heavy materials such as railroad ties. These vessels featured simple flat-bottomed hulls, designed to carry high-density cargoes over short distances.
Description
Built around 1899, the Mike Doherty was used to haul railroad tie cargo—likely between rail yards and docks along Lake Michigan ports. In spring 1919, the vessel was loaded with ties when her hull failed under stress, leading to catastrophic sinking. Some registry lists incorrectly cite early June 1919 as loss date; the actual incident occurred earlier in the season.
History
Loaded with a concentrated cargo of railroad ties, the vessel suffered hull failure under tension. She flooded rapidly and sank in Lake Michigan shortly thereafter. No salvage efforts were recorded, and the vessel was deemed a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- No modern survey, dive identification, or wreck-site confirmation exists. The wreck remains unlocated and undocumented in underwater archaeological archives.
Final Disposition
No Notices to Mariners, hazard bulletins, or official advisories are known for this wreck. Transport scows without propulsion often escaped formal reporting in early 20th-century maritime bulletins.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Mike Doherty exemplifies a class of small working barges used for heavy cargo transport around the early 20th century. Her loss due to hull failure under load—and the lack of registry or propulsion—reflects the vulnerability of utilitarian craft in routine operations. While the basic incident is documented, the wreck remains archaeologically unlocated. Further consultation of regional industrial archives or marine casualty logs may yield additional insight.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mike-doherty-1899″ title=”References & Links”]
Note: Additional research via period railroad or marine operation records (e.g., dock logs, company files) could provide further technical or ownership details.
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