Schooner X
- Schooner
- 165ffw 53m
- 118ft Length
- Long Point, Lake Erie
- 42 27.104 80 07.331
History
The schooner named ST. JAMES was built in 1856 at Milan, Ohio by Merry & Gay. Its official number was 22417, and it had a tonnage of 302. The original owner of the vessel was C.M. Reed from Erie, Pennsylvania.
Throughout its history, the ST. JAMES encountered various incidents. In 1860, it was damaged in a collision, and by 1868, its tonnage had increased to 226.76 gross tons. On May 2, 1870, the ownership of the schooner transferred to Andrew Abernathy of Buffalo, New York. Unfortunately, in October of the same year, the ST. JAMES was lost near Erie, Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles north of the city. It was carrying a cargo of 14,000 bushels of wheat at the time of its final voyage, and the exact cause of its loss remains unknown.
In a historical account published in the Free Press on December 12, 1855, a report by James J. Strang mentioned the discovery of wreckage from a vessel that may have belonged to the lost ST. JAMES. Various items, such as damaged goods, cheese boxes, and a cabin structure, were found on the shore of Beaver Island, indicating a shipwreck in the area.
When the wreck of the ST. JAMES was later discovered, it was initially unidentified and referred to as “Schooner X.” Found sitting in 165 feet of water, the vessel exhibited signs of still being under sail, with anchors in place, masts rising eighty feet from the lake bottom, and intact cabins and wheel. It featured a unique scrolled figurehead and both a wooden bilge pump and a newer cast iron bilge pump. However, the mystery surrounding the wreck was solved when divers discovered the vessel’s tonnage numbers, carved in the main beam, indicating it was indeed the ST. JAMES.
Considered one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th-century schooner in the Great Lakes, the ST. JAMES is highly regarded among divers. Its well-preserved state and historical significance make it a must-dive site for those with the proper training and equipment.
