America US 373

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: America
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: G. Thayer, Ashtabula, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 118 tons
• Location: Mid-lake off Waukegan, Lake Michigan
• Coordinates: Approximately 25 miles out of Chicago
• Official Number: 373

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The America was a wooden schooner built in 1853 by G. Thayer in Ashtabula, Ohio. With a tonnage of 118 tons, she was designed for transporting bulk cargo, particularly lumber, which was a key commodity in Great Lakes commerce during the mid-19th century.

Description

Like many schooners of her time, the America operated extensively between ports as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Ashtabula, supporting the rapidly expanding urban centers around Lake Michigan.

History

The America served for over a decade as part of the Great Lakes lumber trade, carrying timber from northern Michigan and Wisconsin forests to the growing cities along the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Her routes included regular stops at ports as Chicago, Waukegan, and Milwaukee.

Significant Incidents

On August 8, 1866, while carrying a load of lumber, the America encountered a severe storm approximately 25 miles out of Chicago, in mid-lake near Waukegan, Illinois. The storm caused the schooner to capsize, trapping part of the crew, a woman passenger, and her child below deck.

Rescue Effort

The schooner Eliza Logan was passing nearby and noticed the America‘s distress. The crew of the Eliza Logan performed a heroic rescue, managing to:

• Save those clinging to the upturned hull of the America.
• Cut a hole through the schooner’s bottom (now facing upwards) to free those trapped inside, including the woman and her child.

Final Disposition

Following the rescue, the America was towed back to shore. It’s uncertain whether she was repaired and returned to service or declared a total loss at that time.

Possible Later Loss

Records suggest that the America might have been the schooner out of Chicago reported lost on September 17, 1868, in Lake Michigan. If the vessel was indeed salvaged after her 1866 capsizing, she likely returned to service for a short period before meeting her final fate two years later.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the America‘s wreck. The mid-lake area off Waukegan contains numerous wrecks, and she may be among unidentified remains in the region.

NOTMARs & Advisories:

Mariners are advised to exercise caution in mid-lake regions of Lake Michigan, where sudden storms and high winds are common.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”america-us-373″ title=”References & Links”]

The America‘s capsizing in 1866 near Waukegan highlights the perils of Great Lakes navigation, particularly for lumber schooners vulnerable to sudden storms. The dramatic rescue by the schooner Eliza Logan saved all aboard, including a woman and her child trapped below deck. While it’s uncertain whether the America returned to service or was finally lost in 1868, her story remains a testament to both the dangers and the heroic efforts that characterized Great Lakes maritime history.