Identification & Site Information

• Wreck Name: QUICKSTEP
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Type at Loss: Scow-Schooner, wood
• Builder: Kirby & Hoyt, Saginaw, MI
• Year Built: 1855
• Specifications: Tonnage: 255 tons
• Date of Loss: November 22, 1869
• Place of Loss: Off Long Point, Lake Erie
• Type of Loss: Storm/Collision
• Lake: Erie
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo: Unknown
• Owner: William White, Chicago

Vessel Type

The QUICKSTEP was a wooden scow-Schooner, a vessel type commonly used on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century for transporting bulk cargo. Scow-schooners were known for their flat-bottomed design, making them ideal for navigating shallow waters and coastal ports. These vessels were often rigged with two or three masts and primarily relied on sails, although some later versions were modified for auxiliary steam power.

Description & Historical Summary

The QUICKSTEP was built in 1855 by Kirby & Hoyt, a prominent shipbuilding firm in Saginaw, Michigan. At 255 tons, it was a moderately sized scow-Schooner, likely engaged in the transport of bulk freight such as lumber, coal, or grain—common cargoes for vessels of its type during the period.

Owned by William White of Chicago, the QUICKSTEP was part of the bustling Great Lakes shipping network, which connected resource-rich regions of the Midwest to major industrial centers like Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago. The vessel’s service on Lake Erie would have been typical for schooners operating between Lake Michigan and the Atlanticvia the Welland Canal.

Final Voyage & Loss Details

On November 22, 1869, the QUICKSTEP was navigating the waters off Long Point, a notorious hazard on Lake Erieknown for its shifting sandbars and treacherous shallows. During this voyage, the vessel collided with the Schooner HANSON under unclear circumstances—possibly in poor weather conditions or limited Visibility. The collision forced the QUICKSTEP ashore, and the vessel was subsequently lost.

Details about the loss of life are not specified in the historical records, suggesting that the crew may have survived or that the information was not well-documented. No specific cargo is recorded for this final voyage, but given the vessel’s role in bulk transport, it likely carried lumber, grain, or coal at the time of the incident.

Final Disposition

The QUICKSTEP was declared a Total Loss after being driven ashore off Long Point. There is no record of salvage attempts or recovery efforts, which was not uncommon for wooden scow-schooners at the time, especially when heavily damaged in remote or difficult-to-access areas.

Located By & Date Found

Nil – There are no current records indicating that the wreck of the QUICKSTEP has been located or surveyed.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories

Nil – There are no current Notices to Mariners issued for the wreck site of the QUICKSTEP.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Marine Document Warehouse
• Bowling Green State University Historical Collections

Conclusion

The loss of the QUICKSTEP highlights the inherent dangers of 19th-century Great Lakes navigation, particularly in regions like Long Point, where shifting shoals and unpredictable weather conditions posed significant hazards. While the QUICKSTEP may not have been a large or famous vessel, it represents the thousands of workhorse schooners that fueled the economic growth of the Great Lakes region. The lack of detailed records about the wreck serves as a reminder of the many forgotten vessels that played critical roles in maritime commerce but faded into obscurity after their loss.

Tags & Keywords #GreatLakesShipwrecks #LakeErieWrecks #ScowSchooner #MaritimeHistory #LongPointShipwreck #GreatLakesCommerce #19thCenturyShipping #ShipwreckExploration