Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

W.R. Crowell US 80531

Explore the wreck of the W.R. Crowell, a tugboat lost during salvage operations in Lake Michigan in 1893. All crew were rescued.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: W.R. Crowell
  • Type: Tug (Towboat)
  • Year Built: 1875
  • Builder: Gibson & Craig, Buffalo, NY
  • Dimensions: Length 74 ft (22.6 m); Beam 17.1 ft (5.2 m); Depth of hold 8.3 ft (2.5 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 57 tons (Gross), 27 tons (Net)
  • Location: 1 mile off Michigan City, Indiana
  • Official Number: 80531
  • Original Owners: Frank Perew, Fortier & Perew, James Dempsey
  • Number of Masts: 1

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

  • Type: Tug (Towboat)
  • Design: Single-deck, wooden hull, screw-propelled tug

Description

  • Construction: Built by Gibson & Craig, Buffalo, NY
  • Length: 22.6 m (74 ft)
  • Beam: 5.2 m (17.1 ft)
  • Depth: 2.5 m (8.3 ft)
  • Gross Tonnage: 57 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 27 tons
  • Propulsion: Screw-propelled
  • Hull: Wood
  • Decks: 1

History

  • 1875: Built for Frank Perew, Buffalo, NY
  • 1879: Owned by Fortier & Perew, Buffalo
  • 1881: Purchased by James Dempsey, Manistee, Michigan
  • 1893: Actively engaged in salvage and towing operations on Lake Michigan
  • December 1893: Engaged in attempted salvage of the steamer FRANK W. WHEELER when she foundered 1 mile offshore from Michigan City, Indiana. Crew was successfully rescued by the tug T.T. MORFORD.

Significant Incidents

  • Loss Circumstances: Foundered during salvage operations on December 3, 1893.
  • Crew Rescue: All crew were rescued by the tug T.T. Morford.

Final Disposition

The W.R. Crowell sank while under strain during the failed salvage effort of the wrecked FRANK W. WHEELER. The vessel was lost, but its crew survived due to the timely arrival of another tug. By June 1895, local fishermen reported locating the wreck site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck remains uncharted, likely resting at a modest depth offshore Indiana. The area is now open water with no reported navigational hazard listings.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-r-crowell-us-80531″ title=”References & Links”]

The W.R. Crowell is a representative example of the hard-working, wooden-hulled tugs that populated the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. Her end, amid the challenging conditions of a winter salvage operation, underscores the peril of marine assistance on the lakes. Though modest in size, her service history traces the active towing routes between Buffalo, Manistee, and Michigan City.

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(s): W.R. Crowell
  • Official Number: 80531
  • Year Built: 1875
  • Place Built: Buffalo, NY
  • Final Location: 1 mile off Michigan City, Indiana, Lake Michigan
  • Date Lost: 3 December 1893
  • Cause of Loss: Foundered during salvage operations
  • Final Disposition: Total loss
  • Crew: All rescued by tug T.T. Morford

Vessel Type

  • Type: Tug (Towboat)
  • Design: Single-deck, wooden hull, screw-propelled tug

Description

  • Construction: Built by Gibson & Craig, Buffalo, NY
  • Length: 22.6 m (74 ft)
  • Beam: 5.2 m (17.1 ft)
  • Depth: 2.5 m (8.3 ft)
  • Gross Tonnage: 57 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 27 tons
  • Propulsion: Screw-propelled
  • Hull: Wood
  • Decks: 1

History

  • 1875: Built for Frank Perew, Buffalo, NY
  • 1879: Owned by Fortier & Perew, Buffalo
  • 1881: Purchased by James Dempsey, Manistee, Michigan
  • 1893: Actively engaged in salvage and towing operations on Lake Michigan
  • December 1893: Engaged in attempted salvage of the steamer FRANK W. WHEELER when she foundered 1 mile offshore from Michigan City, Indiana. Crew was successfully rescued by the tug T.T. MORFORD.

Final Disposition

The W.R. Crowell sank while under strain during the failed salvage effort of the wrecked FRANK W. WHEELER. The vessel was lost, but its crew survived due to the timely arrival of another tug. By June 1895, local fishermen reported locating the wreck site.

Located By & Date Found

  • Reported Found: June 1895
  • Discoverer: Local fishermen
  • Method: Casual discovery during fishing operations; no formal archaeological survey known.

Notmars & Advisories

None noted. The area is now open water with no reported navigational hazard listings.

Resources & Links

  • Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
  • Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
  • William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum
  • Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
  • Archival newspaper reports (via Labadie Collection)

Conclusion

The W.R. Crowell is a representative example of the hard-working, wooden-hulled tugs that populated the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. Her end, amid the challenging conditions of a winter salvage operation, underscores the peril of marine assistance on the lakes. Though modest in size, her service history traces the active towing routes between Buffalo, Manistee, and Michigan City. Today, her wreck remains uncharted, likely resting at modest depth offshore Indiana.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Tugboat, towboat, salvage operations, Great Lakes towing, Lake Michigan wrecks, wooden hull, screw tug, Buffalo shipbuilding, Michigan City wreck, winter foundering, 19th century salvage.

w-r-crowell-us-80531 1893-12-03 02:13:00