The SS Marquette was a wooden-hulled, American Great Lakes freighter built in 1881, that sank on Lake Superior, five miles east of Michigan Island, Ashland County, Wisconsin, Apostle Islands, United States on October 15, 1903.
On May 15, 1890, while towing the schooner Grace Holland on Lake Superior, the Republic broke her crank pin of her aft engine after passing Lime Island.
Captain Caughill, the second engineer, the second mate and a watchman stayed on the Marquette to guide her to Michigan Island.
At around midnight, the crew reported to Captain Caughill that the ship was taking on water from an unknown source.
He ordered the pumps started and head to Michigan Island, the nearest land, which he judged to be about 25 miles away.
Captain Caughill advised most of the 13 man crew to take to the lifeboats, leaving only himself, the second engineer, the second mate and a watchman to guide the ship to the beach.
the men took the lifeboat and pulled away from the wreck just in time to avoid her suction vortex as she plunged for the bottom.
[10] The remains of the Marquette rest in 215 feet (66 m) of water about five miles east of Michigan Island.
Her hull is also surrounded by a number of artefacts including: her boiler (which lies off to her port side), her smokestack, numerous pieces of china.