Identification & Site Information

• Name: AUTOCRAT
• Former Names: None reported
• Official Number: None Assigned
• Date Built and Launched: 1854
• Builder: Stevens, Cattaraugus, New York
• Homeport: Buffalo, New York
• Final Owner: N.T. Company, Buffalo, New York
• Vessel Type: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Masts: Two
• Power: Sail-powered
• Measurements:
• Tonnage: 345 tons
• Primary Cargo: Corn (15,000 bushels at the time of its loss)
• Final Route: Chicago to Buffalo, New York

Vessel Type

The AUTOCRAT was a two-masted wooden Schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes for bulk cargo transport.

Key Features of Great Lakes Schooners:

• Designed for hauling grain, lumber, and coal
• Typically had two or three masts
• Highly maneuverable, but vulnerable to collisions in crowded harbors

At 345 tons, the AUTOCRAT was a medium-sized cargo Schooner, specializing in long-distance shipping between ports like Chicago and Buffalo.

History

The AUTOCRAT operated for 12 years, primarily transporting grain and other bulk goods across Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes before it sank in a collision in 1866.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1854: Built in Cattaraugus, New York, for Great Lakes grain trade.
• 1866, August 5: Lost near Chicago, Illinois, in a collision.

Final Disposition

The AUTOCRAT was lost on August 5, 1866, after it collided with the Schooner J.S. NEWHOUSE while anchored near Chicago.

The Disaster

• The vessel was waiting offshore near Chicago, seeking shelter from a storm before continuing its journey to Buffalo.
• Before dawn, the Schooner J.S. NEWHOUSE, while also searching for shelter, accidentally struck the AUTOCRAT.
• The collision caused severe damage, and the AUTOCRAT sank quickly in 7 fathoms (42 feet) of water.
• The entire crew was rescued by the Tug UNION.
• The vessel and its 15,000 bushels of corn were lost.

The AUTOCRAT was not recovered, as salvage efforts in the 1860s were often limited for vessels in deeper waters.

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Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the AUTOCRAT‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented near Chicago, Illinois.

Due to its depth (42 feet) and location in a high-traffic area, the wreck may be buried beneath lake sediments or disturbed by harbor dredging over the years.

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NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Chicago, Illinois, in Lake Michigan.

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Resources & Links

• Historical Databases:
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Local Archives & Museums:
• Chicago Maritime Museum (Chicago, IL) (Potential records of early shipwrecks)
• Illinois State Archives – Maritime Section (Possible salvage or insurance records)

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Conclusion

The AUTOCRAT was a well-built grain Schooner that spent over a decade transporting cargo on the Great Lakes before it sank in a tragic collision near Chicago in 1866.

Though no lives were lost, the incident highlighted the dangers of navigating busy harbor waters, especially in storms and low Visibility.

Would you like more details on Chicago-area shipwrecks, early grain schooners, or 19th-century salvage techniques? Let me know!