Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Niko
- Type: Propeller-driven wooden bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: John Craig & Son, Trenton, Michigan
- Dimensions: 200 ft overall length; 35 ft beam; 20 ft depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Garden Island, Michigan
- Official Number: 130439
- Original Owners: Edward Hines Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Niko was a substantial wooden-hulled, propeller-driven freighter built specifically for the lumber trade—one of the last in the Edward Hines Company’s fleet. With over 200 ft in length, a single-deck layout, coal-fired propulsion, and robust construction, she was typical of late 19th-century bulk carriers on the Upper Great Lakes.
Description
Niko was a wooden bulk freighter designed for the lumber trade, notable for her size and construction typical of the era. She was propelled by a coal-fired engine and was part of the Edward Hines fleet.
History
Constructed in 1889 at Trenton, Michigan, Niko served primarily in the Chicago-based Hamilton Transportation Co. fleet hauling lumber. On 2 November 1924, she was under tow near Garden Island, Michigan, bound with her tow-barge C.E. Redfern. A violent gale caused her hull to fail, and she foundered shortly thereafter. The Redfern took aboard Niko‘s crew and rode out the storm in sheltered waters before making port.
Significant Incidents
- 2 November 1924: Niko foundered during a severe storm on Lake Michigan while towing the barge C.E. Redfern.
- No loss of life reported; crew rescued by the tow-barge.
Final Disposition
Caught in the storm off Garden Island, Niko took on water rapidly and sank. No salvage attempts are recorded. Her tow-barge survived, and crew were safely transferred, but the main vessel was lost.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no modern documentation of the wreck being located via dive or sonar survey. No modern maritime archaeology projects associated with Niko are known, and the wreck remains unsearched.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nico-us-130439″ title=”References & Links”]
The Niko sank off Garden Island, Lake Michigan, on 2 November 1924 after her hull was breached in storm conditions while hauling lumber and towing the C.E. Redfern. Her crew was safely rescued aboard the barge, which survived in sheltered water. Although well documented in historic vessel registers and incident databases, no modern archaeological survey has located the wreck. This case underscores the risks faced even by late-era wooden freighters in severe weather.
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.
Wooden Propeller Bulk Freighter, Foundered in Gale — Lake Michigan (Garden Island area)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Niko
- Official Number: 130439 (us-data.org)
- Type at Loss: Propeller-driven wooden bulk freighter, lumber trade
- Builder: John Craig & Son, Trenton, Michigan (Hull #38), launched 1889 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- Dimensions: Approximately 200 ft overall length, 189 ft LBP, 35 ft beam, 20 ft depth (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- Date of Loss: 2 November 1924 during a severe storm on Lake Michigan (us-data.org)
- Location: Foundered off Garden Island, Michigan (Lake Michigan region) (us-data.org)
- Cargo: Lumber; towing barge C.E. Redfern (chicagology.com)
- Fate: Vessel foundered in gale; tow-barge rescued crew; C.E. Redfern survived in lee of Garden Island (chicagology.com)
- Loss of Life: None reported; crew survived via tow barge rescue
Vessel Type Description
Niko was a substantial wooden-hulled, propeller-driven freighter built specifically for the lumber trade—one of the last in the Edward Hines Company’s fleet. With over 200 ft in length, a single-deck layout, coal-fired propulsion, and robust construction, she was typical of late 19th-century bulk carriers on the Upper Great Lakes. (greatlakesvesselhistory.com, us-data.org)
History & Chronology
Constructed in 1889 at Trenton, Michigan, Niko served primarily in the Chicago-based Hamilton Transportation Co. fleet hauling lumber. On 2 November 1924, she was under tow near Garden Island, Michigan, bound with her tow-barge C.E. Redfern. A violent gale caused her hull to fail, and she foundered shortly thereafter. The Redfern took aboard Niko‘s crew and rode out the storm in sheltered waters before making port. (chicagology.com)
Final Disposition
Caught in the storm off Garden Island, Niko took on water rapidly and sank. No salvage attempts are recorded. Her tow-barge survived, and crew were safely transferred, but the main vessel was lost.
Located By & Date Found
There is no modern documentation of the wreck being located via dive or sonar survey. No modern maritime archaeology projects associated with Niko are known, and the wreck remains unsearched.
Notmars & Advisories
No historical Notices to Mariners or official hazard bulletins pertaining to this wreck have been located. Given the era and vessel size, formal maritime reporting was limited.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessel History – Niko: operational details, builder, type, dimensions, owners (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- USGenNet: Niko loss summary: precise date, cause (storm), cargo, location, rescue scenario (us-data.org)
- Edward Hines Lumber Company Fleet summary via Chicagology.com: narrative of incident; tow-line fouled, hull breached, rescue by C.E. Redfern (chicagology.com)
- Wikipedia “List of shipwrecks – 5 November 1924”: entry for Niko, confirming foundering off Garden Island, crew rescued (Wikipedia)
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Lake Michigan, lumber freighter, 1924 storm loss, propeller bulk freighter, Edward Hines fleet, tow barge rescue
Summary
The Niko sank off Garden Island, Lake Michigan, on 2 November 1924 after her hull was breached in storm conditions while hauling lumber and towing the C.E. Redfern. Her crew was safely rescued aboard the barge, which survived in sheltered water. Although well documented in historic vessel registers and incident databases, no modern archaeological survey has located the wreck. This case underscores the risks faced even by late-era wooden freighters in severe weather.
nico-us-130439 1924-11-02 10:47:00