Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Oswegatchie (1867)

Explore the wreck of the Oswegatchie, a wooden-hulled steam-driven lumber tow steamer that foundered in a storm on Lake Huron in 1891.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Oswegatchie
  • Type: Wooden-hulled steam-driven lumber tow steamer
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lake Huron, near Yankee Reef, approximately 35 mi NE of Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled steam-driven lumber tow steamer.

Description

Description

The Oswegatchie was reported to be carrying lumber and was towing several barges, including the A. J. McBrier, N. P. Goodell, and Huron, during parts of her journey from Alpena to Detroit.

History

History

Built in 1867, the Oswegatchie served as a lumber tow steamer. The vessel’s construction details, including dimensions and official number, remain scarce.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

  • Foundered during a severe storm on November 26, 1891, after the towline parted, leading to the vessel becoming waterlogged and heavily damaged.
  • No deaths recorded among the crew, but several suffered severe frostbite due to exposure during the storm.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The Oswegatchie was lost near Yankee Reef in Lake Huron. The tow barges lost their connection and were likely scuttled or abandoned. There is no evidence of a surviving hull; it is presumed that the wooden structure has collapsed on the lakebed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

Coordinates for the wreck are listed in NOAA Thunder Bay archives, but no side-scan or dive survey data has been publicly documented. The site is considered remote, and no contemporary Notices to Mariners have been found.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”oswegatchie-1867″ title=”References & Links”]

Conclusion

The Oswegatchie met her fate in a violent November storm on Lake Huron, foundering after tow lines parted off Yankee Reef. While the crew escaped, several suffered frostbite in the icy onslaught. Her wooden hull almost certainly disintegrated, leaving wreckage on the lakebed. Limited archival data exists, but NOAA files and local reportage may yield deeper context. A dedicated underwater survey would be invaluable to establish location, condition, and any artifact presence.

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: Oswegatchie
  • Type: Wooden-hulled steam-driven lumber tow steamer
  • Built: 1867 (General dimensions and registry records scarce)

Cargo & Voyage Details

  • Reported carrying lumber, under tow by the steamer for parts of her journey
  • Barges Under Tow: A. J. McBrier, N. P. Goodell, and Huron
  • Route: Bound from Alpena to Detroit

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: November 26, 1891
  • Location: Lake Huron, near Yankee Reef, approximately 35 mi NE of Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, NPGallery)
  • Cause: Foundered during a severe storm — towline parted and vessel waterlogged and heavily damaged (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Crew Impact: No deaths recorded; several crew suffered severe frostbite due to storm exposure (Flybridge)

Wreck & Site Condition

  • Tow barges lost their connection; likely scuttled or abandoned
  • No evidence of surviving hull; presumed waterlogged wooden structure now collapsed on lakebed
  • Coordinates exist in NOAA Thunder Bay listings under “Oswegatchie propeller 1867 11‑26‑1891” (nmsthunderbay.blob.core.windows.net)
  • No side-scan or dive survey data publicly documented

Notices & Advisories

  • Listed in sanctuary archives as probable wreck in Thunder Bay region (nmsthunderbay.blob.core.windows.net)
  • No contemporary Notices to Mariners found, likely due to remote site and weather timing

Research & Archival Gaps

  • Construction Details: Dimensions, official number, and registry archive still needed
  • Crew Names & Logs: Likely reported in Alpena/Detroit newspapers Nov–Dec 1891
  • Tow Logs: Steamer’s logs may outline the storm encounter and towing circumstances
  • Wreck Survey: Side-scan sonar or remotely operated vehicle (ROV) search could confirm remains at Yankee Reef

Conclusion

Oswegatchie met her fate in a violent November storm on Lake Huron, foundering after tow lines parted off Yankee Reef. While the crew escaped, several suffered frostbite in the icy onslaught. Her wooden hull almost certainly disintegrated, leaving wreckage on the lakebed. Limited archival data exists, but NOAA files and local reportage may yield deeper context. A dedicated underwater survey would be invaluable to establish location, condition, and any artifact presence.

Keywords & Categories

1867 propeller, lumber steamer, Lake Huron storm loss, tow steamer, frostbite incidents, Yankee Reef wreck, NOAA Thunder Bay archive site

oswegatchie-1867 1891-11-26 11:15:00