Dan Baker (1869)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: DAN BAKER
• Type: Scow-Schooner
• Year Built: 1869
• Builder: Dan Hayes
• Dimensions: Not specified
• Registered Tonnage: 61 tons
• Location: Off Cedar Point, Ohio
• Coordinates: Not specified
• Original Owners: Blanchard
• Number of Masts: Not specified

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type Description

The DAN BAKER was a wooden scow-schooner, a practical vessel designed for transporting bulk cargoes across the Great Lakes. Its flat-bottomed, shallow-draft design allowed it to navigate shallow and rocky waters effectively. Built in 1869 by Dan Hayes in Fairport, Ohio, the vessel combined the economic efficiency of a scow with the sailing rig of a schooner. With a tonnage of approximately 61 tons, the DAN BAKER was particularly suited for carrying heavy materials like stone, a common cargo for Great Lakes scow-schooners.

Description

The DAN BAKER had a short but active career serving the Great Lakes’ burgeoning cargo trade. Owned by Blanchard and operated out of Cleveland, Ohio, it was tasked primarily with the transport of stone, which was critical for construction and industry during the period.

History

Incidents in 1874

• April 1874: The vessel ran aground at Middle Sister Island, Lake Erie, during its voyage. Despite efforts by the steamship JAY COOKE to pull it free, the rescue operation was abandoned after the tow line broke. Wreckers hoped to return when weather conditions improved, but the grounding resulted in significant damage, costing approximately $500.
• June 12, 1874: The DAN BAKER met its final demise while navigating through a storm off Cedar Point, Ohio. The vessel sprang a leak and began to take on water. Despite the crew’s best efforts, the scow-schooner succumbed to the gale and sank. Thankfully, there were no casualties among the crew.

The vessel and its cargo of stone were declared a total loss, and the grounding earlier in the year likely contributed to its weakened state and vulnerability in the storm.

Significant Incidents

Final Disposition

The DAN BAKER sank off Cedar Point, Ohio, and was abandoned as a total loss. The exact location of the wreck remains unknown, and no salvage attempts were made. The ship’s remains have not been located in modern times, and its resting place continues to elude maritime historians.

Final Disposition

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs)

No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the wreck, as it no longer poses a navigational hazard.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Located By & Date

The wreck of the DAN BAKER has not been identified or located in modern times. Its precise coordinates and depth are unrecorded.

Resources & Links

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The DAN BAKER epitomizes the vital yet perilous role of small cargo vessels in 19th-century Great Lakes commerce. Its design and operations underscore the importance of scow-schooners in transporting essential materials like stone, despite the ever-present risks of grounding, storms, and structural failure. The vessel’s loss in 1874 highlights the challenges faced by early sailors and shipbuilders, particularly in an era when wooden ships were pushed to their limits by harsh weather and demanding cargoes.

While the wreck remains undiscovered, the story of the DAN BAKER endures as a testament to the resilience and determination of those who navigated the Great Lakes in the face of constant adversity.