Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Una
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1877
- Builder: J. McCarthy, Grand Haven, Michigan
- Dimensions: 63 ft x 17 ft x 8 ft (19.2 m x 5.2 m x 2.4 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 44 gross tons
- Location: Algoma, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 25228
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Una was a small two-masted wooden schooner, likely engaged in short-haul trade, transporting lumber, coal, or general freight along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
Description
Built in 1877 by J. McCarthy in Grand Haven, Michigan, the Una operated for over three decades, despite multiple accidents and near losses.
Throughout its career, the Una endured several notable incidents:
- 1890 – Aground near Grand Haven, Michigan; crew rescued by the U.S. Life-Saving Service.
- 1897 – Struck a dock in St. Joseph, Michigan harbor and sank. The Life-Saving Service rescued the crew with difficulty.
- 1909 (Final Loss) – During a storm on October 15, 1909, the schooner stranded in the harbor at Algoma, Wisconsin. Reports suggest that it may have blown away from its moorings, as no crew was aboard at the time. The vessel became a total loss.
Given its repeated accidents, the Una was likely an aging vessel by the time of its loss, and its small size made it vulnerable to rough weather and harbor conditions.
History
The Una was declared a total loss after stranding in Algoma, Wisconsin. No significant salvage efforts were recorded.
Significant Incidents
- 1890 – Aground near Grand Haven, Michigan; crew rescued by the U.S. Life-Saving Service.
- 1897 – Struck a dock in St. Joseph, Michigan harbor and sank. The Life-Saving Service rescued the crew with difficulty.
- 1909 (Final Loss) – During a storm on October 15, 1909, the schooner stranded in the harbor at Algoma, Wisconsin. Reports suggest that it may have blown away from its moorings, as no crew was aboard at the time. The vessel became a total loss.
Final Disposition
No confirmed wreckage has been found.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Algoma, Wisconsin, has been the site of several shipwrecks, as its harbor was once a busy timber shipping point with limited protection from Lake Michigan storms.
No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”una-us-25228″ title=”References & Links”]
The Una had a long but accident-prone career, surviving multiple groundings and a sinking before finally being lost in a storm at Algoma in 1909. Its repeated incidents highlight the risks faced by small schooners operating on Lake Michigan, particularly as they aged and became less seaworthy.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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