Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: David G. Williams
- Type: Scow barge (non-powered)
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Myron Williams
- Dimensions: Length 97 ft (29.57 m); Beam 23.2 ft; Depth of hold 6.9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 117 tons
- Location: Off the south pier, Chicago, Illinois
- Official Number: 35436
- Original Owners: Myron Williams, Marysville, Michigan
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: David G. Williams
- Official Number: 35436
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Myron Williams
- Build Location: Marysville, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow barge (non-powered)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Construction Characteristics: Flat-bottomed, likely used for timber transport along southern Lake Michigan
Description
Dimensions
- Length: 97 ft
- Beam: 23.2 ft
- Depth: 6.9 ft
- Tonnage (Gross): 117 tons
History
Ownership & Operational History
- Original Owner: Myron Williams, Marysville, Michigan
- Enrollment: Port Huron, Michigan on August 8, 1874
- Use: Lumber transport across Lake Michigan
Significant Incidents
Incident Chronology
- Early 1877: Grounded near St. Joseph, Michigan and was successfully released
- Final Voyage: Carrying 175,000 board feet of lumber
- Date of Loss: November 9, 1877
- Final Location: Off the south pier, Chicago, Illinois, Lake Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Sunk under unknown conditions
- Casualties: None known; not recorded
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- Cargo: Lumber
- Salvage: No records of recovery or salvage operations
- Wreck Status: Presumed unrecovered; no dive coordinates available
Current Condition & Accessibility
Historical Significance & Observations
The David G. Williams was representative of the numerous small, wooden scow barges in the Great Lakes timber trade. Its construction and service life were typical of the 1870s bulk freight era. The sinking near Chicago’s South Pier underscores the dangers of autumn shipping on Lake Michigan, especially for non-powered vessels.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”david-g-williams-us-35436″ title=”References & Links”]
Research Recommendations
- Search Chicago Tribune or Inter-Ocean newspaper archives for Nov 9–15, 1877
- Request U.S. Custom House enrollment records for Port Huron, 1874
- Investigate wreck databases and sonar surveys near the Chicago South Pier
- Check lumber company logs in Chicago for loss records or insurance claims
Keywords: David G. Williams, scow barge, Lake Michigan, timber trade, 1877 shipwreck, Port Huron enrollment, Chicago pier losses
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: David G. Williams
- Official Number: 35436
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Myron Williams
- Build Location: Marysville, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow barge (non-powered)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Construction Characteristics: Flat-bottomed, likely used for timber transport along southern Lake Michigan
Dimensions
- Length: 97 ft
- Beam: 23.2 ft
- Depth: 6.9 ft
- Tonnage (Gross): 117 tons
Ownership & Operational History
- Original Owner: Myron Williams, Marysville, Michigan
- Enrollment: Port Huron, Michigan on August 8, 1874
- Use: Lumber transport across Lake Michigan
Incident Chronology
- Early 1877: Grounded near St. Joseph, Michigan and was successfully released
- Final Voyage: Carrying 175,000 board feet of lumber
- Date of Loss: November 9, 1877
- Final Location: Off the south pier, Chicago, Illinois, Lake Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Sunk under unknown conditions
- Casualties: None known; not recorded
Final Disposition
- Cargo: Lumber
- Salvage: No records of recovery or salvage operations
- Wreck Status: Presumed unrecovered; no dive coordinates available
Historical Significance & Observations
The David G. Williams was representative of the numerous small, wooden scow barges in the Great Lakes timber trade. Its construction and service life were typical of the 1870s bulk freight era. The sinking near Chicago’s South Pier underscores the dangers of autumn shipping on Lake Michigan, especially for non-powered vessels.
Research Recommendations
- Search Chicago Tribune or Inter-Ocean newspaper archives for Nov 9–15, 1877
- Request U.S. Custom House enrollment records for Port Huron, 1874
- Investigate wreck databases and sonar surveys near the Chicago South Pier
- Check lumber company logs in Chicago for loss records or insurance claims
Keywords: David G. Williams, scow barge, Lake Michigan, timber trade, 1877 shipwreck, Port Huron enrollment, Chicago pier losses
david-g-williams-us-35436 1877-11-09 13:46:00