Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Wood Island (formerly Lyle D.)
- Type: Wooden Gasoline-Powered Tug (Formerly Passenger Vessel)
- Year Built: 1907
- Builder: Racine, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length 45 ft (13.7 m); Beam: 11 ft (3.4 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 10 gross tons; 7 net tons
- Location: Near Five-Mile Point, west of Munising, Michigan
- Official Number: 206510
- Original Owners: Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden Gasoline-Powered Tug (Formerly Passenger Vessel)
Description
The Wood Island, originally named Lyle D., was a wooden gasoline-powered tug built in 1907. It was converted from a passenger vessel to serve the Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company, assisting in towing operations along the Lake Superior shoreline.
History
The vessel was originally built in 1907 in Racine, Wisconsin, as a passenger vessel named Lyle D. For the first 13 years of its career, the Lyle D. operated as a passenger transport on the Great Lakes, likely serving small communities and industries along the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior coasts.
In 1920, the vessel was sold and renamed Wood Island when it was converted into a gasoline-powered tug for the Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company, a major iron ore shipping and mining operation. As a tugboat, the Wood Island was used for towing rafts and barges along the Lake Superior shoreline, assisting with logging and mining operations near Munising, Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- September 9, 1922: The Wood Island was transporting a broomstick raft near Five-Mile Point when a sudden fire broke out due to an engine backfire, leading to an explosion and the vessel’s sinking.
Final Disposition
The Wood Island was completely destroyed, burning to the waterline and sinking in the shallow waters near Five-Mile Point. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued by nearby tugs Munis and Grand Island.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Given that the vessel burned to a total loss, it is likely that only remnants of charred wooden planking, fastenings, or engine components remain. No known modern surveys or dive reports exist documenting the remains of the Wood Island. Due to its small size and wooden construction, the wreckage may have deteriorated significantly or been scattered by waves and ice over the past century.
The wreck has not been located or documented in contemporary shipwreck records. If any remains exist, a side-scan sonar survey of the Five-Mile Point area could potentially detect remnants of the vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”wood-island-us-206510-lyle-d” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Wood Island was a small but significant gasoline-powered tugboat that played a role in logging and mining operations on Lake Superior. Originally built as the passenger vessel Lyle D. in 1907, it was converted into a tug in 1920 and operated by the Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company. It caught fire and exploded due to an engine backfire near Munising, Michigan, on September 9, 1922, but all crew members survived thanks to a timely rescue by nearby tugs. Though no known remains have been located, the Wood Island remains a notable example of the hazards faced by early gasoline-powered vessels on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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