Col. Ellsworth – Lake Superior Schooner Shipwreck

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: COL. ELLSWORTH
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1850s (Exact date unknown)
• Builder: Likely in a Great Lakes shipyard, specifics unrecorded
• Dimensions: Length: Approx. 135 ft (41 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Estimated 400 tons
• Location: Near Deer Park, Lake Superior; various locations of reported incidents (Waugoshance and Hudson Bay)
• Original Owners: Bakers of Detroit (noted during grounding incident)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The COL. ELLSWORTH was a classic wooden schooner, built for durability and cargo transport during the mid-19th century. Schooners like the COL. ELLSWORTH were essential for transporting goods such as timber, grain, and other bulk commodities across the Great Lakes. Known for their two or three masts and efficient rigging, schooners of this type were workhorses of the era, balancing speed and capacity in the bustling maritime trade.

Description

The COL. ELLSWORTH had a storied and tumultuous career on the Great Lakes:

History

Key Events:

• Collision with EMILY MAXWELL
  • Date: 1860s (exact year unspecified)
  • Location: Off Waugoshance, Lake Michigan
  • Incident: The COL. ELLSWORTH collided with the schooner EMILY MAXWELL in the early morning hours. The impact caused the ELLWORTH to sink within 30 minutes.
  • Outcome: The crew was rescued by the MAXWELL, but the wreck’s spars created hazards for other vessels in the area.
• Repairs and Rebuild
  • Date: After 1860s collision
  • Location: Clark’s Dry Dock
  • Incident: Extensive repairs, including a new bottom, keel, decks, refastening, and fresh paint, revitalized the schooner.
  • Cost: $5,000
  • Result: Restored to better-than-original condition and returned to active service.
• Grounding near Deer Park
  • Date: October 1895
  • Location: Near Deer Park, Lake Superior
  • Incident: The schooner ran aground during a storm, sustaining damage estimated at $3,000.
  • Outcome: Freed from the beach by its owners, the Bakers of Detroit, and repaired for further use.
• Final Demise
  • Date: Post-1895
  • Location: Unknown; presumed lost in the Great Lakes, possibly Lake Superior.
  • Circumstances: The vessel’s records fade after the 1895 incident, suggesting either abandonment or an unrecorded wreck.

Final Disposition

The COL. ELLSWORTH is believed to have been lost in Lake Superior following years of service and repeated incidents. While no definitive wreck location is recorded, the schooner’s history suggests it may have succumbed to the cumulative effects of aging and structural strain.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Given the age and repeated incidents involving the COL. ELLSWORTH, any remaining wreckage is likely scattered and in a deteriorated state. While the precise location of its final resting place remains unknown, its story continues to intrigue maritime historians and enthusiasts.

Resources & Links

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The COL. ELLSWORTH epitomizes the resilience and risks of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping. Despite significant repairs and a long career, the vessel’s fate was sealed by the unpredictable nature of the inland seas. While its exact wreck location remains unknown, the schooner’s legacy as a symbol of maritime triumph and tragedy endures.