Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

You Tell US 656020

Explore the wreck of the You Tell, a 19th-century scow-schooner lost in Lake Superior due to a storm. A dive into maritime history awaits.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: You Tell
  • Type: Scow-schooner
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Builder: W. Gangulon, Detroit, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 56 ft (17.1 m) X 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 38 GT
  • Location: Near Washington Island, Isle Royale, Lake Superior
  • Official Number: 65020
  • Original Owners: L. Tenney of Duluth, Minnesota
  • Number of Masts: 2-mast

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The You Tell was a small wooden scow-schooner, a vessel type commonly used on the Great Lakes for transporting bulk cargoes.

Description

The You Tell was built in 1866 in Detroit, Michigan, by shipbuilder W. Gangulon. Scow-schooners were characterized by their flat-bottomed hulls, allowing them to operate in shallow waters, making them ideal for transporting goods to and from undeveloped or small port areas.

History

The vessel was owned by L. Tenney of Duluth, Minnesota, and primarily operated between Lake Superior ports, hauling cargo between settlements and industrial centers in the western Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

  • On September 26, 1872, while sailing from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Ashland, Wisconsin, the You Tell encountered a storm near Washington Island, Isle Royale.
  • The storm pushed her onto a shoal, causing her hull to take on water and eventually founder.
  • There is no clear record of casualties, leaving the fate of the crew unknown.

Final Disposition

The You Tell was abandoned and never recovered after her hull was damaged and submerged in the treacherous waters near Isle Royale. Over time, the harsh conditions of Lake Superior likely destroyed any remaining structure.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no known modern discovery of the wreck. Any surviving remains would likely be scattered wreckage or buried under shifting lakebed sediments near Isle Royale.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The You Tell was a typical scow-schooner of the mid-19th century, serving in short-haul cargo transport across Lake Superior. Her loss in 1872 due to a storm and shoal impact is part of the treacherous maritime history of this region.