Wooden Steambarge – Built 1900, Lost Spring 1909

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Mischief
  • Built: 1900 (wooden-hulled steambarge)
  • Lost: Spring 1909, driven ashore by a gale after being torn from her tow, on a rocky shore in Michigan
  • Tow Vessel: Being towed by Steamer William Edenborn—both bound for Duluth, hauling iron ore (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type

A wooden steambarge repurposed for hauling bulk cargo—iron ore—on the Great Lakes, lacking independent propulsion and reliant on steam tugs.

Construction & Description

  • Hull: Built of wood in 1900, likely reinforced for heavy bulk cargo
  • Tonnage & Size: Precise measurements not available; typical steambar­ges of the era ranged from 150 to 250 feet
  • Configuration: Flat-Deck Bulk Carrier, designed to be towed in consort with steamers

Operational History

Operating on Lake Michigan–Superior routes, Mischief was a regularly towed cargo carrier, transporting iron ore with steam consorts like William Edenborn.

Final Incident & Casualties

  • Cause of Loss: A spring gale ripped Mischief free from William Edenborn’s Towline; the Barge was blown ashore on a rocky shoreline and broke into pieces (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Date & Conditions: Occurred during a violent spring storm in 1909 (exact date unspecified)
  • Casualties: None—crew were safely carried ashore after a crew member bravely secured a rope to the cliff, enabling their rescue (YouTube)

Site Condition & Discoveries

  • Wreck Site: Bow now lies in shallow water; Stern rests in approximately 130 ft depth under good conditions (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Dive Interest: Frequently dived by local technical divers; partial remains—most notably the bow—are visible
  • Noted Feature: A harrowing rescue story—one crewman leapt to shore with a rope, facilitating the survival of all aboard (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Notices & Warnings

  • No official navigation hazard notices recorded; site is not in commercial traffic.
  • Dive conditions include rocky, shallow-sunny bow area, moving to deeper water near Stern. Wreck remains scattered, posing moderate underwater hazards.

Sources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (M) listing for Mischief provides incident details, towing vessel, dive observations, and rescue narrative (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Further Research & Exploration Opportunities

  • Crew & Tow Records: Look into William Edenborn logs and Coast Guard filing for crew lists and voyage manifest.
  • Weather Logs: Spring 1909 storm conditions can be traced via local meteorological and newspaper archives (e.g., Detroit Free Press).
  • Diver Survey Logs: Contact local dive clubs for site mapping, photographs, and structural condition reports.
  • Sonar Mapping: A side-scan or photogrammetry survey could document the Stern’s deeper portion and assess artifact preservation.

Conclusion

Mischief represents a chapter in early 20th-century Great Lakes freight tow practices—lost not to collision or sinking, but to the brutal forces of a spring gale. Her partial remains, notably the bow visible in shallow water and Stern at depth, offer compelling dive opportunities and tangible links to a dramatic crew rescue. As a frequently visited wreck, it’s well documented among divers but remains under-researched in formal archival records.

Would you like assistance obtaining tow-line logs for Edenborn, locating spring 1909 storm reports, or reviewing dive survey data for a site assessment?