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