Throughout the 1893 shipping season, John V. Moran ran between Buffalo, New York, and Duluth, Minnesota.

She was sold for the first time in 1895 to the Union Transit Line of Buffalo, and once again in 1898 to the Crosby Transportation Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On February 10, Naomi took John V. Moran in tow, but she was leaking too badly to make it to Muskegon.

On the morning of February 11, John V. Moran's crew walked back to her across the ice in order to retrieve everything of value on board.

[1][9] During the 1893 shipping season, John V. Moran ran between Buffalo, New York, and Duluth, Minnesota.

Maurice B. Grover initially tried to pass by John V. Moran's stern, unsuccessfully, and instead tried to head past her bow.

Judge Alfred Conkling Coxe Sr. exonerated Maurice B. Grover, claiming that John V. Moran was at fault, as she did not give any danger signals prior to the collision.

[1] John V. Moran left Milwaukee for Muskegon, on February 9, 1899, at 1:00 p.m., loaded with barrels of flour and miscellaneous cargo.

[8] Although Naomi managed to tow John V. Moran a few miles nearer to Muskegon, she was eventually abandoned as the crew realised that she would not be able to survive the whole journey.

[8] John V. Moran's crew walked back over the ice to her, in order to retrieve their belongings.

[8] Ten years after John V. Moran sank, her sister ship, Eber Ward was also sunk by ice on Lake Michigan.

[8][13] Despite the patchy newspaper reports from 1899, they were able to narrow down the search area to a 10 square mile (25.9 km2) grid system.

[8][13][15] On July 8, the team invited Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit to investigate the wreck.

[8][13][15] The wreck of John V. Moran rests upright and remarkably intact in 365 feet (111.3 m) of water.

The remotely operated vehicle also located a hole in the starboard side of John V. Moran's hull, and some minor damage at her port bow.