Antelope (ellen G Cochran – Lake Michigan Schooner Shipwreck (1894)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: ANTELOPE
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1878
• Builder: Grand Haven or Muskegon, Michigan
• Dimensions: 56 ft (17.1 m); Beam 16 ft (4.9 m); Depth of hold 5 ft (1.5 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 32 gross tons, 30 net tons
• Location: Near Grand Haven, Michigan
• Official Number: 135356
• Original Owners: Captain John Larson
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner

Description

The ANTELOPE was a small, wooden two-masted schooner originally launched as the ELLEN G. COCHRAN in 1878. With modest dimensions and tonnage, the schooner was designed for regional cargo transport along Lake Michigan’s coastline. Her size made her suitable for hauling lighter loads, and her shallow draft allowed her to access smaller harbors along the Michigan shoreline.

History

The schooner began her life as the ELLEN G. COCHRAN, built in Grand Haven or Muskegon, Michigan. By 1883, she had been renamed ANTELOPE and was actively engaged in freight transportation across Lake Michigan, operating primarily out of Muskegon under the ownership of Captain John Larson.

On November 15, 1894, the ANTELOPE was en route from South Chicago to Muskegon, traveling light—meaning she was not heavily laden with cargo. As the vessel approached Grand Haven, she encountered a strong southwest gale, a common but dangerous weather phenomenon on Lake Michigan during late autumn. The schooner capsized and broke up while attempting to navigate into Grand Haven Harbor. The combination of high winds and rough waves likely overwhelmed the small vessel, which was not heavily weighted down to stabilize her in the storm.

The tragedy resulted in the loss of four lives: three crew members and one passenger. Despite the efforts of Captain Larson, who owned and skippered the vessel, the schooner could not withstand the gale’s force.

Significant Incidents

• November 15, 1894: The ANTELOPE capsized and broke up near Grand Haven, Michigan, during a southwest gale, resulting in the loss of four lives.

Final Disposition

Capsized and broke up near Grand Haven, Michigan, in a southwest gale on November 15, 1894. The vessel was a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil—no confirmed reports of the wreck’s recovery or current location.

Resources & Links

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The loss of the ANTELOPE in 1894 underscores the treacherous nature of late-season shipping on Lake Michigan. Even for experienced captains like John Larson, the lake’s sudden and powerful gales could prove fatal, especially for smaller, lightly loaded vessels like the ANTELOPE. The schooner’s tragic capsizing while attempting to reach the safety of Grand Haven Harbor resulted in the loss of four lives and marked the end of a vessel that had served the region’s shipping needs for over 15 years. Her story is a testament to the risks faced by mariners navigating the Great Lakes during the height of the 19th-century maritime trade.