Story
The W.L. Wetmore was driven ashore in a storm on November 29, 1901. The 819.74-ton steamer was towing 2 barges, the Brunette and James C. King, when it got caught in a squall and ran aground off Russel Island. The Brunette was salvaged but the James. C. King slide into deep water a few meters north of the Wetmore.
Diving the wreck
This is an excellent shallow water dive with several key points to investigate. The port and starboard sides have collapsed and now lie along side the bottom of the hull. At the north end of the wreck, there is a huge oak rudder with a 15' blade, and a sheared off propeller with a 25' long drive shaft. Moving forward to the bow area, you can find a large length of anchor chain, hawse pipes and an impressive anchor. The most notable feature is the ships boiler, which rises 15' off the lake bottom. Take some time to examine the construction of ships of this time. You can see excellent examples of scarph joints and hanging knees. This site is also excellent for snorkelers.
Explore the wreck
