Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: N.P. Goodell
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: circa 1854–1860
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Huron
- Official Number: Not identified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A schooner converted into a barge, designed for bulk cargo and towed by steamers. A workhorse in the Great Lakes coal trade of the late 19th century.
Description
Late in 1891, N.P. Goodell was under tow by the disabled steamer Oswegatchie along with two other barges. During a severe storm in Lake Huron, the schooner-barge broke loose, drifted and sank to her decks.
History
On 26 November 1891, the towing operation in Lake Huron failed during a storm. Overwhelmed and untethered, N.P. Goodell drifted mid-lake until she gradually foundered. The crew survived, escaping the sinking onto Oswegatchie or other vessels in the tow group.
Significant Incidents
- No fatalities reported among the crew during the loss.
Final Disposition
The schooner-barge sank to deck depth in mid-lake and was presumed a total loss. A few days later, her hulk reportedly washed ashore near Bayfield, Ontario.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No dive surveys have recorded the wreck. Knowledge of the wreck’s location comes solely from historical towing incident records.
No navigational hazards were charted; the wreck sank in deep water and poses no current threat. Her remains are likely scattered and inaccessible to recreational diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”n-p-goodell-circa-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
The N.P. Goodell showcases the vulnerabilities of unpowered barges during late-season Lake Huron storms. As part of a compromised towing group headed by Oswegatchie, she separated, launched adrift, and sank mid-lake on 26 November 1891—all crew members surviving without fatalities. Her fate lives on through towing logs and casualty reports but remains an untouched wreck in deep waters.
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
- Name: N.P. Goodell
- Built: circa 1854–1860 (exact build details not found)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Official Number: Not identified
- Cargo at Loss: Coal
- Crew at Loss: No fatalities reported
- Date Lost: 26 November 1891
- Final Location: Lake Huron — towed alongside the storm-crippled steamer Oswegatchie; drifted mid-lake and foundered (migenweb.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A schooner converted into a barge, designed for bulk cargo and towed by steamers. A workhorse in the Great Lakes coal trade of the late 19th century.
Description
Late in 1891, N.P. Goodell was under tow by the disabled steamer Oswegatchie along with two other barges. During a severe storm in Lake Huron, the schooner-barge broke loose, drifted and sank to her decks.
History & Loss
On 26 November 1891, the towing operation in Lake Huron failed during a storm. Overwhelmed and untethered, N.P. Goodell drifted mid-lake until she gradually foundered. The crew survived, escaping the sinking onto Oswegatchie or other vessels in the tow group (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
The schooner-barge sank to deck depth in mid-lake and was presumed a total loss. A few days later, her hulk reportedly washed ashore near Bayfield, Ontario (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Located By & Date Found
No dive surveys have recorded the wreck. Knowledge of the wreck’s location comes solely from historical towing incident records.
Notations & Advisories
No navigational hazards were charted; the wreck sank in deep water and poses no current threat. Her remains are likely scattered and inaccessible to recreational diving.
Conclusion
The N.P. Goodell showcases the vulnerabilities of unpowered barges during late-season Lake Huron storms. As part of a compromised towing group headed by Oswegatchie, she separated, launched adrift, and sank mid-lake on 26 November 1891—all crew members surviving without fatalities. Her fate lives on through towing logs and casualty reports but remains an untouched wreck in deep waters.
Keywords: N.P. Goodell, schooner-barge, Oswegatchie tow, Lake Huron storm loss, 1891 barge foundering
Categories:
- Lake Huron shipwrecks
- Late-season freight losses
- Towed barge incidents
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “N.P. Goodell”: sheds light on her loss while towed by Oswegatchie and subsequent sinking and beaching (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)