• Name: ELLA TEAL (also seen as ELLEN TEAL)
• Official Number: 7493
• Type at Loss: Schooner, Wood, 2-Mast
• Year Built: Before 1869
• Specifications: Length: 45 ft (13.7 m) Beam: 12 ft (3.7 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 19 tons
• Date of Loss: April 24, 1870
• Place of Loss: Chicago Harbor, near the Breakwater just north of the lighthouse
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: 1 (the mate)
• Carrying: 18,000 board feet of lumber

Vessel Type

The ELLA TEAL was a 2-masted wooden Schooner, a typical design for small cargo vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were favored for their efficient sail power and shallow drafts, allowing them to transport lumber and other bulk goods between growing port cities around the lakes.

Description & History

The ELLA TEAL, sometimes recorded as ELLEN TEAL, was a small Schooner engaged primarily in the lumber trade, a vital industry fueling the rapid expansion of cities like Chicago during the post-Civil War boom. Built before 1869, little is known about her construction, but her modest dimensions suggest she was designed for short-haul cargo routes, particularly along the western shores of Lake Michigan.

On April 24, 1870, the ELLA TEAL was nearing the end of a routine voyage, carrying 18,000 board feet of lumberfrom Muskegon, Michigan, to Chicago. As she approached Chicago Harbor, she encountered rough weather conditions. A storm caused the vessel to become waterlogged—a perilous situation where water accumulates faster than it can be pumped out, severely compromising buoyancy and stability.

Struggling against the elements, the Schooner was driven against the Breakwater near the Chicago lighthouse. The combination of heavy waves and repeated impacts against the harbor’s protective structure quickly pounded the vessel to pieces. Tragically, the Schooner’s mate lost his life during the incident, while the remaining crew managed to survive.

The ELLA TEAL was owned by Wood & Sibley of Pentwater, Michigan, with Captain Samuel T. Wood serving as her master. The owners were active in the regional lumber trade, and vessels like the ELLA TEAL played a critical role in transporting timber from Michigan’s vast forests to booming urban centers like Chicago.

Final Disposition

The ELLA TEAL was completely destroyed during the storm, leaving no recoverable remains. The pounding surf and forceful collision with the Breakwater broke her apart swiftly, a common fate for small wooden vessels caught in severe weather on the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Merchant Vessel Register (MV)

Conclusion

The loss of the ELLA TEAL highlights the dangers faced by small schooners engaged in the lumber trade on Lake Michigan during the 19th century. Despite her modest size, the vessel played an important role in supporting the growth of Chicago and other Great Lakes port cities. Her tragic end serves as a reminder of the perils of sudden storms, particularly for vessels navigating the unpredictable waters near harbor entrances. The incident also underscores the importance of maritime infrastructure like breakwaters and lighthouses, which, while designed to protect harbors, could become deadly obstacles when weather conditions turned against vulnerable ships.