Identification & Site Information

• Name: BESSIE SMITH
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 2852
• Date Built and Launched: 1873
• Builder: Bailey Brothers, Toledo, Ohio
• Original Owner: Shepard, Henry & Company, Erie, Pennsylvania
• Homeport: Erie, Pennsylvania
• Vessel Type: Three-masted wooden Schooner Barge
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power: Sail-powered (towed as a Barge but capable of sailing)
• Measurements: Length: 201 ft (61.3 m) Beam: 37 ft (11.3 m) Depth: 17 ft (5.2 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 723 tons
• Primary Cargo: Iron ore, bulk freight
• Towed By: Steamer J. KELLEY

Vessel Type

The BESSIE SMITH was a large, three-masted schooner-barge, a common vessel type designed for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes. Originally capable of sailing on its own, the BESSIE SMITH was primarily towed by steamers to reduce costs and increase efficiency. When steamers became disabled or unavailable, Schooner-barges would hoist sails and operate independently.

Given its size and design, the BESSIE SMITH was used for hauling heavy cargoes like iron ore, coal, and lumber.

History

The BESSIE SMITH had one of the shortest service lives in Great Lakes history, being lost in the same year it was built.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1873: Built in Toledo, Ohio, by Bailey Brothers for Shepard, Henry & Co., Erie, Pennsylvania.
• November 1873: Ran aground on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, after being caught in a storm.
• April 4, 1874: Reported as having “gone to pieces,” meaning a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The BESSIE SMITH was lost on November 7, 1873, after being driven ashore in a storm near Beaver Island, Lake Michigan.

The Disaster

1. The BESSIE SMITH was under tow from Escanaba, Michigan, carrying 1,500 tons of iron ore.
2. The Steamer J. KELLEY, which was towing the BESSIE SMITH, became disabled.
3. The BESSIE SMITH hoisted sails and towed J. KELLEY back to safety before attempting to continue on its own.
4. The vessel was later picked up by the Steamer ANNIE YOUNG but broke loose in a storm and was driven ashore.
5. Wreckers attempted to pump out the vessel using the largest available steam pumps, but they could not save her.
6. By April 6, 1874, reports confirmed that the vessel had completely broken apart.

The BESSIE SMITH was never successfully re-floated, and the iron ore cargo was lost as well.

Wreck Location & Visibility

• GPS Coordinates of the Hull: N 45°34’33.5″ W 085°35’47.0″
• General Location: Iron Ore Bay, Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
• Visibility:
• The Hull can still be seen using Google Earth, just west of Iron Ore Bay.
• A section of the side of the vessel is still exposed, about 50 yards east-northeast of the Hull.
• The other side disappeared approximately 40 years ago, likely buried by ice flows.

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Located By & Date Found

The remains of the BESSIE SMITH have been located and are visible near Iron Ore Bay, Beaver Island.

However, no formal archaeological survey has been conducted, and much of the wreck is now be buried by shifting sands and ice movement.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Beaver Island, Lake Michigan.

Sources & References

• Newspaper Reports:
• Detroit Free Press (November 13, 1873) – Reports the vessel as a Total Loss.
• Toronto Globe (April 6, 1874) – Confirms the vessel has “gone to pieces.”
• Maritime Records:
• Merchant Vessel List (1880-81) – Lists the BESSIE SMITH as “Reported as lost.”
• Historical Databases:
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The BESSIE SMITH was a brand-new vessel lost within months of entering service, illustrating the dangers of Great Lakes storms, the risks of Schooner-Barge towing, and the challenges of maritime salvage efforts in the 19th century.

Her wreck is still visible off Beaver Island, making it one of the few known Schooner-Barge wrecks accessible via satellite imagery.