On September 29, 1895, the CHARLES J. KERSHAW SS was bound for Marquette, MI towing her two barges HENRY A. KENT and the MOONLIGHT when she was hit by a fierce gale. While battling the storm, she burst a steam pipe and was driven into the Chocolay Reef where she was pounded to pieces. The two barges she was towing were pushed onto the beach and both were recovered the following spring. The KERSHAW was a wooden bulk carrier launched on April 17, 1874. She measured 223’ long, by 37’ wide and a draft of 20’. At 1,324 tons she was powered by a coal fired boiler connected to a 48” by 36” low pressure engine which turned a single shaft.
Today she rests in 25 feet of water where divers can explore the scattered hull sections and the remains of her boiler. Location: 46°30.56’N 087°21.81’W
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