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