Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Prince
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Grounded near Port Crescent, Michigan, Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Though scant specifics exist, Prince likely functioned as a small wooden schooner or schooner-barge, a common design in early 1900s Great Lakes freight service. These vessels carried bulk or general cargo along routes in Lake Huron and connected rivers. The absence of machinery detail and her behavior during the gale suggests a sail-powered or simpler barge configuration.
Description
No further incidents or operational history are recorded for Prince. Her only known mention in archival sources pertains to the catastrophic storm of October 1905 which inflicted heavy damage and ultimately sank the vessel. The lack of registration detail suggests she may not have been large or formally documented.
History
On 20 October 1905, Prince was caught in a powerful gale on Lake Huron. Stranded near Port Crescent, she sustained critical grounding damage. The vessel flooded and sank shortly thereafter. The storm, part of a broader pattern of late-season gales (sometimes referred to as “Witch of November” style weather), caused widespread maritime losses that season.
Significant Incidents
- 20 October 1905: Caught in a severe storm, the vessel grounded and sank near Port Crescent, Michigan.
Final Disposition
No modern archaeologic search, dive survey, or sonar identification has been documented for Prince. The wreck remains unlocated and unstudied.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No Notices to Mariners, maritime advisories, or formal hazard bulletins exist in conjunction with this wreck. In 1905 such documentation was rare, especially for smaller vessels.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”prince-pre-1905″ title=”References & Links”]
Prince represents one of multiple lesser-known schooner losses during the severe fall storm season of 1905 on Lake Huron. Though technical documentation is minimal, the incident underscores weather-induced risks common to early 20th-century Great Lakes navigation. Further archival research—such as period newspaper coverage from Michigan or Canadian ports—may provide corroborating reports or additional vessel records.
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