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