Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Unknown No. 9
- Type: Suggested bulk cargo wooden canaller
- Year Built: Unknown (likely late 19th to early 20th century)
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Bow section ~ 13 ft long; Estimated Full Length: At least ~100 ft
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Depth at Wreck Site: 0.9 m / 3 ft
- Location: Shoreline near Furnessville, Indiana
- Coordinates: Not published
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Unknown No. 9 is catalogued in the Indiana DNR shipwreck inventory as a suggested bulk cargo wooden canaller based on fragmentary remains.
Description
The known remnant is a bow section measuring approximately 13 ft in length; the listing suggests the intact vessel may originally have been about 100 ft or longer. Because the wreck lies in extremely shallow water (~3 ft), it is likely subject to sediment burial, wave action, and seasonal exposure.
History
No archival or historical documentation (e.g. registry entries, newspaper accounts, company logs) has been publicly associated with Unknown No. 9. Its identity, trade, and date of loss remain speculative.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel likely sank or was abandoned near the shore, with subsequent deterioration and partial burial of structural elements.
Final Disposition
The bow fragment may represent one of the few surviving exposed remains above sediment or mudline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
This wreck is part of the Indiana DNR’s Lake Michigan wreck inventory. The listing indicates its basic characteristics, but no detailed survey date or discovery notes are provided.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”unknown-no-9-furnessville-indiana” title=”References & Links”]
No records have been found for crew, casualties, or memorials associated with this wreck.
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
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: Unknown
Vessel Type: Suggested bulk cargo wooden canaller
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown (likely late 19th to early 20th century)
Dimensions (fragment): Bow section ~ 13 ft long
Estimated Full Length: At least ~100 ft (inferred)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: Unknown
Location: Shoreline near Furnessville, Indiana, Lake Michigan
Coordinates: Not published
Depth: ~3 ft (0.9 m)
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Unknown
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: Unknown
Description
Unknown No. 9 is catalogued in the Indiana DNR shipwreck inventory as a suggested bulk cargo wooden canaller based on fragmentary remains. The known remnant is a bow section measuring approximately 13 ft in length; the listing suggests the intact vessel may originally have been about 100 ft or longer. Because the wreck lies in extremely shallow water (≈3 ft), it is likely subject to sediment burial, wave action, and seasonal exposure.
History
No archival or historical documentation (e.g. registry entries, newspaper accounts, company logs) has been publicly associated with Unknown No. 9. Its identity, trade, and date of loss remain speculative.
Final Dispositions
The vessel likely sank or was abandoned near the shore, with subsequent deterioration and partial burial of structural elements. The bow fragment may represent one of the few surviving exposed remains above sediment or mudline.
Located By & Date Found
This wreck is part of the Indiana DNR’s Lake Michigan wreck inventory. The listing indicates its basic characteristics, but no detailed survey date or discovery notes are provided.
Notmars & Advisories
No known Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) refer specifically to this wreck. The shallow depth means it poses minimal hazard to deep-draft vessels but could be relevant to very shallow craft near the shoreline in low water.
Dive / Survey Information
- Access: Likely shore / wade
- Entry Point: Furnessville, Indiana shoreline
- Conditions: Very shallow, possibly exposed or periodically exposed depending on lake level, sediment shifting
- Depth Range: 0 to ~3 ft
- Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Lake Michigan, Indiana DNR heritage / undersea division
- Permits: Likely required under Indiana underwater heritage / archaeological law
- Support: Local archaeological, diving, or university teams in the region
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No records have been found for crew, casualties, or memorials associated with this wreck.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Unknown No. 9 … Section of the bow measured 13 feet long, suggested to have measured at least 100 ft … Depth of Wreck: 3 feet … Nearest City: Furnessville, Indiana … Wreck Photos/Drawings: None.” — Indiana DNR Shipwrecks listing
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No registry or insurance records are known to tie to this wreck. If future study of the bow fragment (timber species, fasteners, construction style) can narrow candidate vessel classes, it may assist in matching to registry lists from Great Lakes / Indiana coastal trade.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The Indiana DNR listing provides the fragment measurement and classification, but no photographs, drawings, or detailed imaging are available publicly. It is possible unpublished field survey notes, sketches, or bathymetric data exist in DNR or state heritage archives.
Image Gallery
(No images are currently known or publicly available for this wreck.)
Resources & Links
- Indiana DNR Shipwrecks – Lake Michigan Coastal Program (listing for Unknown No. 9)
- Indiana DNR Indiana Shipwrecks (coastal program)
- Local archives, historical societies in Lake County / Furnessville region
- Great Lakes vessel registries and canaller reference works
- Indiana DNR underwater heritage / archaeological program records
References
- Indiana DNR, Shipwrecks – Lake Michigan Coastal Program: “Unknown No. 9” listing. Government
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: ~3 ft (0.9 m)
Location Description: Near Furnessville, Indiana shoreline, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Suggested bulk cargo wooden canaller
Material: Wood (suggested)
Dimensions: Bow section ~13 ft; total length estimated ≥ 100 ft
Condition: Fragmentary, shallow submersion, limited visibility
Cause of Loss: Unknown
Discovery Date: Not published
Discovered By: Indiana DNR archaeological survey (unconfirmed)
Method: Shoreline or nearshore observation
Legal Notes: Governed by Indiana underwater cultural heritage protections
Hazards: None documented; potential hazard only to very shallow draft craft
Permits Required: Yes, for any excavation or structural disturbance