Identification & Site Information

• Name: Wells Burt
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 80365
• Date Built and Launched: July 10, 1873
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, Michigan
• Master Carpenter: George Hardison
• Vessel Type: Schooner (Double Topsail)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Number of Masts: 3
• Hull Number: 26
• Measurements:
• Length: 200 ft (61 m)
• Beam: 34 ft (10.4 m)
• Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
• Tonnage: 756 gross tons
• Capacity: 50,000 barrels
• Original Owner: Hugh Coyne, Detroit, Michigan
• Date Lost: May 20, 1883
• Place of Loss: Off Evanston Point, Illinois, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Foundered in a gale
• Final Cargo: Coal
• Loss of Life: All 10 crew members lost

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Vessel Type:
Three-masted wooden Schooner with double topsails, designed for speed and large cargo capacity, among the largest and fastest schooners on the Great Lakes during her time.

Description:
The Wells Burt was a large, three-masted Schooner, notable for her size and speed when launched in 1873 from the Detroit Dry Dock Company. Measuring 200 feet (61 m) in length and with a carrying capacity of 50,000 barrels, she was a powerhouse in the booming freight trade on the Great Lakes. Her double topsail rigging enhanced her performance, making her one of the fastest schooners navigating the lakes.

History:
Upon her launch, the Wells Burt quickly earned a reputation as one of the premier schooners on the Great Lakes, handling bulk cargoes such as coal and grain. By 1879, she was owned by E.S. Stone of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, continuing her service in the bustling Great Lakes shipping routes.

Throughout her operational life, the Wells Burt was involved in several incidents, including a notable collision with the Schooner Monguagon in November 1880. Despite these challenges, she remained in active service until her tragic final voyage.

On May 20, 1883, while carrying a load of coal, the Wells Burt encountered a severe gale off Evanston Point, Illinois, on Lake Michigan. The violent storm proved too much for the vessel, and she Foundered, sinking with all ten crew members aboard. Despite the Total Loss of life, the cargo of coal was eventually recovered.

Final Disposition:
The Wells Burt remained lost beneath Lake Michigan until 1988, when divers successfully located the wreck off Evanston Point. The site has since become a point of interest for divers and maritime historians.

Located By & Date Found:
Located in 1988 off Evanston Point, Illinois, in Lake Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories:
The wreck site is known and may be visited by divers, but there are no specific navigational hazards reported in current charts.

Resources & Links:

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
• Burton Historical Collection

Conclusion

The Wells Burt stands as a testament to the ambition and risks of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Once among the fastest schooners on the lakes, her tragic sinking in 1883 claimed all ten crew members, underlining the perilous nature of maritime life during that era. The rediscovery of her wreck in 1988 off Evanston Point has preserved her legacy as part of the rich maritime history of Lake Michigan.

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Keywords: Schooner, Lake Michigan, Evanston Point, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Coal Transport, Maritime Tragedy
Categories: Great Lakes Schooners, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History
Glossary Terms: Double Topsail, Foundering, Gross Tonnage, Gale