Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Nipigon
- Type: Tug or small steamer
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Likely a small wooden tug or steamer, based on size implied and common usage of the period.
Description
The Nipigon was probably used for harbor duties or light towing near the Huron coastline. Specific details regarding her construction, dimensions, and machinery are currently unavailable.
History
The Nipigon sank in Lake Huron after striking the bottom during a storm, which caused her hull planking to stove in. The exact date of loss is approximated to the early 1880s, but no precise year has been documented.
Significant Incidents
- Cause of Loss: Struck bottom during a storm, which “stove in her hull planking,” causing her to sink.
- Approximate Date: Early 1880s (exact year not found in HL Shipwreck Files).
- Location: Lake Huron (records only indicate the lake—no precise coordinates).
Final Disposition
No records specify the fate of the crew or any casualties; their status remains unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Existing vessel data is minimal, with significant gaps in identity and context. To fully reconstruct her story, diving into specific archival sources—particularly for small, unregistered tugs of that era—is essential.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nipigon” title=”References & Links”]
The Nipigon represents a small but significant part of maritime history in the Great Lakes. Further research is needed to uncover her full story and the circumstances surrounding her loss.
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.
(Tug or small steamer, early 1880s? – sank in Lake Huron)
Incident Overview
- Cause of Loss: Struck bottom during a storm, which “stove in her hull planking,” causing her to sink.
- Approximate Date: Early 1880s (exact year not found in HL Shipwreck Files).
- Location: Lake Huron (records only indicate the lake—no precise coordinates).
Vessel Characteristics
- Type: Likely a small wooden tug or steamer, based on size implied and common usage of the period.
- Function: Probably used for harbor duties or light towing near the Huron coastline.
- Specifications: Not available—no data currently exists regarding official number, build year, dimensions, ownership, or engine type.
Crew & Casualties
- No records specifying crew survival or casualties—status unknown.
Data Gaps & Next Research Directions
| Missing Data | Why It Matters | Recommended Source(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Exact date of loss | Establish historical context & possible reports | Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (Original “N” entries); newspaper archives (c. 1880–1890) |
| Official number / build details | Identify vessel profile | HCGL enrollment, vessel registries, shipyard records |
| Precise sinking location | For dive or mapping purposes | Storm logs, harbor master records, coast guard logbooks |
| Crew and casualty info | Understanding human impact | Newspaper clippings, maritime casualty listings |
| Insurance / salvage information | Possible post-loss legal files | Marine insurance archives, registry data |
Suggested Next Steps
- Review the “N” section of the Great Lakes Shipwreck File PDF to locate a fuller entry for Nipigon(marineinsight.com, manitouislandsarchives.org, en.wikipedia.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wanderingeducators.com).
- Search newspaper collections around Lake Huron ports (Sarnia, Goderich, Kincardine, Tobermory) between 1880–1890 for reports on a tug named Nipigon taking fuel or sinking during a storm.
- Request HCGL files related to Nipigon to uncover builder/registry data including possible Official No.
- Consult harbor records and survivor logs for storms in Lake Huron matching the description.
- Scan marine insurance ledgers from the 1880s for claims by a vessel named Nipigon damaged or declared a total loss.
Summary
The Nipigon was a small wooden tug or light steamer that sank in Lake Huron after striking bottom in a storm, which breached her hull. Existing vessel data is minimal, with significant gaps in identity and context. To fully reconstruct her story, diving into specific archival sources—particularly for small, unregistered tugs of that era—is essential.
nipigon 1880-07-24 10:25:00