Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: The Muskegon (formerly Peerless)
- Type: Package / passenger freighter, later sandsucker
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Ira Lafrinnier, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: 211 ft (64.3 m); Beam ~39.9 ft (12.17 m); Depth of hold 12.5 ft (3.81 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~1,199 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 9.75 m / 32 ft
- Location: Michigan City, Indiana
- Coordinates: Not precisely published in sources consulted
- Official Number: US 20470
- Original Owners: Leopold & Austrian Lake Superior Line (as Peerless); later Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Co.; later Independent Sand Co.
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Muskegon was originally built as a combined passenger and package freight steamer, later converted for bulk cargo operations.
Description
Built as Peerless in 1872 by Ira Lafrinnier at Cleveland, the vessel was powered by a high-pressure condensing engine fed by two coal-fired firebox boilers. Over time, she was refitted and repurposed for bulk cargo operations, particularly sand-laden operations under new ownership.
History
Peerless entered service circa 1872 under the Leopold & Austrian Lake Superior Line, serving routes between Chicago and Duluth, carrying passengers and freight. Over decades she underwent various refits, ownership changes, and even a collision in 1899 (with the schooner A. Stewart), after which she sank and was later raised and repaired. In about 1907 she was sold to the Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Company and renamed Muskegon. By 1908 she was converted to a bulk freighter. Later she was sold to the Independent Sand Company and further adapted to a sandsucker. By the time of her loss she was engaged in sand unloading operations at Michigan City, Indiana.
On 6 October 1910, while unloading sand at the Indiana Transportation Company dock in Michigan City, a fire broke out in the hull—some accounts attribute it to kerosene spillage near the boilers. The vessel burned down to the waterline and sank at the dock. She remained partially submerged at the dock until 10 June 1911, when she was refloated and towed out into deeper water to be scuttled.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the schooner A. Stewart in 1899, resulting in sinking and subsequent raising and repair.
- Fire on 6 October 1910 while unloading sand, leading to sinking at the dock.
Final Disposition
After the fire and sinking at her dock, Muskegon lay in place until mid-1911. On 10 June 1911, she was refloated, towed away from the dock, and scuttled offshore to avoid obstruction. Substantial portions of her machinery—boilers, engine components, propeller, shafting, etc.—remain on site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Muskegon wreck is included in the Indiana DNR / Lake Michigan Shipwreck Virtual Tour program. The site has been documented via photogrammetric imaging, diver surveys, and remote sensing. The wreck site lies within the designated Indiana Shipwreck Nature Preserve as of 2024, and is regulated by state heritage and underwater archaeological laws.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”muskegon-peerlessus-20470″ title=”References & Links”]
Contemporary accounts report no loss of life during the fire and sinking. Crew member identities at the time of the incident are not documented in the sources reviewed. Researchers may consult local Michigan City / LaPorte County newspaper archives or maritime registers for crew lists.
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
Other Names: Peerless
Official Number: US 20470 (as *Peerless*)
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Package / passenger freighter, later sandsucker / bulk utility vessel
Builder: Ira Lafrinnier, Cleveland, Ohio
Year Built: 1872
Dimensions: 211 ft (64.3 m) length (between perpendiculars, though “overall” sometimes cited ~220 ft), beam ~39.9 ft (12.17 m), draft 12.5 ft (3.81 m)
Tonnage: ~1,199 gross tons (variously cited)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Sand (unloading)
Date of Loss: 6 October 1910 (fire & subsequent sinking)
Location: Michigan City, Indiana (Lake Michigan coast) [WFYI news article]
Coordinates: Not precisely published in sources consulted
Depth: 32 ft (9.75 m)
Home Port: Chicago / Great Lakes region (in service between Chicago & Duluth etc.)
Owners: Leopold & Austrian Lake Superior Line (as *Peerless*); later Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Co.; later Independent Sand Co.
Crew: Not specifically reported in loss; no deaths documented
Casualties: None reported (no loss of life)
Description
Built as *Peerless* in 1872 by Ira Lafrinnier at Cleveland, the vessel was constructed as a combined passenger and package freight steamer, powered by a high-pressure condensing engine fed by two coal-fired firebox boilers (per **Wikipedia**). Over time, she was refitted and repurposed for bulk cargo operations, particularly sand-laden operations (sandsucking) under new ownership.
History
*Peerless* entered service circa 1872 under the Leopold & Austrian Lake Superior Line, serving routes between Chicago and Duluth, carrying passengers and freight. Over decades she underwent various refits, ownership changes, and even a collision in 1899 (with the schooner A. Stewart), after which she sank and was later raised and repaired.In about 1907 she was sold to the Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Company and renamed *Muskegon*. By 1908 she was converted to a bulk freighter. Later she was sold to the Independent Sand Company and further adapted to a sandsucker. By the time of her loss she was engaged in sand unloading operations at Michigan City, Indiana.
On 6 October 1910, while unloading sand at the Indiana Transportation Company dock in Michigan City, a fire broke out in the hull—some accounts attribute it to kerosene spillage near the boilers. The vessel burned down to the waterline and sank at the dock. She remained partially submerged at the dock until 10 June 1911, when she was refloated and towed out into deeper water to be scuttled.
Final Dispositions
After the fire and sinking at her dock, *Muskegon* lay in place until mid‑1911. On 10 June 1911, she was refloated, towed away from the dock, and scuttled offshore to avoid obstruction. Substantial portions of her machinery—boilers, engine components, propeller, shafting, etc.—remain on site.
Located By & Date Found
The Muskegon wreck is included in the Indiana DNR / Lake Michigan Shipwreck Virtual Tour program. The site has been documented via photogrammetric imaging, diver surveys, and remote sensing.
Notmars & Advisories
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) are currently identified in publicly available sources. The wreck site lies within the designated Indiana Shipwreck Nature Preserve as of 2024, and is regulated by state heritage and underwater archaeological laws. (see Indiana Landmarks, Indiana DNR)
Dive Information
Access: Boat (shore access possible depending on local conditions)
Entry Point: Michigan City region, near Mt. Baldy coastal area
Conditions: Sandy bottom, moderate lake visibility, possible surge or current from winds
Depth Range: ~30–32 ft (9–9.8 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Lake Michigan; Indiana DNR Dive / Heritage division
Permits: Recreational diving permitted under preserve rules (no artifact removal)
Dive Support: Local charter services and dive shops in Michigan City / Northwest Indiana
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Contemporary accounts report **no loss of life** during the fire and sinking. Crew member identities at time of incident are not documented in the sources reviewed. Researchers may consult local Michigan City / LaPorte County newspaper archives (e.g. *Michigan City News-Dispatch*, *LaPorte County Daily*) or maritime registers for crew lists.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The ship caught fire in 1910 while docked at Michigan City and burned to the water line. Towed out into Lake Michigan, it was abandoned and sank into thirty feet of water where it remains.” — *Indiana Landmarks* (2025)
“The wooden-hulled vessel, which was launched in 1872, burned down in October 1910 off the coast of Michigan City. The following year, the 211‑foot freighter was dragged about two miles out into Lake Michigan and sunk.” — *Inside Indiana Business*, Dec 2021
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
The vessel, originally *Peerless*, was assigned U.S. Official Number 20470. ([Wikipedia] Insurance claims following the fire, and correspondences regarding scuttling and liabilities, may be found in early 20th‑century insurance ledgers and U.S. Customs records in Chicago, Cleveland, or Indiana archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The Indiana DNR / Lake Michigan Shipwrecks program has produced a full 3D virtual tour (via photogrammetry) of the Muskegon. The site was surveyed in 2011 and in subsequent years to track sand movement and structural changes. The site has also been subject to intrusion assessment, including a modern pipe laid over elements of the wreck, which is being monitored and in some cases removed to prevent damage.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Indiana DNR Muskegon Virtual Tour
- “Indiana Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan” (DNR PDF)
- NPS: Muskegon Shipwreck Preserve Dedication
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress newspapers)
- Find A Grave
- Indiana Landmarks
References
- “SS Muskegon (Peerless).” *Wikipedia*, last accessed 2025. en.wikipedia.org/SS_Muskegon
- Indiana DNR, “Muskegon – Indiana Shipwreck Virtual Tour.” in.gov
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources, *Indiana Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan* (PDF). in.gov
- “Seeking Preservation Status for Sunken Ship.” *Inside Indiana Business*, 6 December 2021. insideindianabusiness.com
- “Raising Awareness of Indiana’s Underwater Landmarks.” *Indiana Landmarks*, March 28, 2025. indianalandmarks.org
- “Indiana may soon get its 2nd underwater shipwreck preserve.” WFYI News, December 11, 2021. wfyi.org
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Peerless
Official Number: US 20470
Coordinates: Not publicly documented
Depth: ~32 ft (9.75 m)
Location Description: Offshore Michigan City, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Package / passenger freighter, later sandsucker
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 211 x 39.9 x 12.5 ft; ~1,199 GRT
Condition: Scuttled, machinery remains, partially intact
Cause of Loss: Fire while moored, then scuttling
Discovery Date: Documented in DNR / shipwreck program surveys
Discovered By: Indiana DNR / underwater survey teams
Method: Diver mapping, photogrammetry, sonar
Legal Notes: Listed on National Register (1989), state preserve status
Hazards: Sharp metal, structural collapse risk
Permits Required: Governed by state preserve rules; no artifact removal
You must be logged in to post a comment.