The Wreck of the E.B. Hale (1897)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: E.B. Hale
• Official Number: 135012
• Type at Loss: Wooden Propeller Bulk Freight Steamer
• Built: 1874, Quayle & Sons, Cleveland, OH
• Specifications: 218 ft (66.4 m) x 35 ft (10.7 m) x 18 ft (5.5 m) | 1,186 gross tons, 925 net tons
• Date of Loss: October 9, 1897
• Place of Loss: 25 miles (40 km) off Harrisville, MI
• Lake: Huron
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Steel billets
• Owner: M.A. Bradley, Cleveland, OH
• Master: Capt. James Lawless

Vessel Type

The E.B. Hale was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter built for carrying heavy industrial cargo across the Great Lakes. With a deep Draft and robust structure, she was capable of transporting large shipments of raw materials such as coal, iron ore, and steel.

These types of wooden propeller steamers were common in the late 19th century, but as the Great Lakes shipping industry transitioned to steel-hulled ships, vessels like the E.B. Hale were at a disadvantage.

Description

Built in 1874 by Quayle & Sons in Cleveland, Ohio, the E.B. Hale served the bulk freight trade for over two decades. She primarily carried steel billets, coal, and iron ore between industrial centers like Lorain, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Chicago.

The ship had a single propeller powered by a steam engine, which gave her the ability to navigate the unpredictable conditions of the Great Lakes. She was owned by M.A. Bradley of Cleveland, and at the time of her loss, was commanded by Captain James Lawless.

Final Disposition

On October 9, 1897, the E.B. Hale was en route from Lorain, Ohio, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying a heavy load of steel billets. A severe storm struck while she was 25 miles off Harrisville, Michigan, in Lake Huron.

The intense waves caused her cargo to shift, destabilizing the vessel and disabling her engine. The sudden loss of power left her at the mercy of the storm, and she began to spring a leak. As the situation worsened, the crew Abandoned ship and launched the lifeboats into the rough waters.

The steamer Nebraska, which had been navigating the storm nearby, spotted the crew adrift in the middle of the lake and rescued them before the Hale went under. The E.B. Hale ultimately sank bow-first into the depths of Lake Huron, disappearing beneath the waves forever.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the E.B. Hale has not been officially located, though her last known position is recorded as 25 miles off Harrisville, MI.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no current navigational warnings related to the E.B. Hale, as she remains undiscovered and does not pose a hazard to modern vessels.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Conclusion

The E.B. Hale was a workhorse of the Great Lakes, but like many wooden bulk freighters, she met her end due to the harsh conditions of Lake Huron. The combination of a heavy shifting cargo, a disabled engine, and a violent storm proved to be too much, and she sank into the depths on that fateful October night in 1897.

Though her wreck has yet to be discovered, the E.B. Hale’s story remains a testament to the risks faced by early Great Lakes mariners, who braved unpredictable waters to keep commerce flowing.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: E.B. Hale shipwreck, Great Lakes freighter, Lake Huron shipwreck, wooden bulk freighter, 19th-century shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime history.
Categories: Great Lakes bulk freighters, Wooden steamships, Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Maritime disasters, Industrial cargo vessels.