Long-lost John Evenson shipwreck is discovered in Lake Michigan after sinking nearly 130 years ago
SUMMARY
Maritime historians Brendon Baillod and Robert Jaeck have uncovered the long-lost wreck of the John Evenson, a tugboat that sank nearly 130 years ago in Lake Michigan. Built in 1884, the John Evenson was a prominent vessel used for towing ships across the Great Lakes. The wreck, found in 42 feet of water near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, retains its boiler, steam engine, propeller, and hull-bed, all remarkably intact. On June 5, 1895, tragedy struck when the John Evenson collided with the much larger I.W. Stephenson while attempting to tow it through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. The collision caused the smaller tugboat to sink within three minutes. Four crew members were rescued, but the ship's engineer, Martin Boswell, perished below deck. Efforts to recover the ship began in 1897, led by the Laurie Brothers, the vessel's owners. However, the mission was abandoned due to insurance conflicts. Historical records and high-resolution sonar finally led to the ship’s discovery in 2024.
