Shotline Diving

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David Provost US 6284

Explore the wreck of the David Provost, a wooden schooner that sank in 1887 during a storm in Lake Huron. The crew survived, but the vessel remains lost.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: David Provost
  • Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1864
  • Builder: Squires, Huron, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Approximately 89 ft × 22 ft × 7 ft; ~99 GRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 99 GRT
  • Location: Near Detour Passage Lighthouse, Lake Huron
  • Official Number: 6384
  • Original Owners: Registered out of Detroit, ownership attributed to Carron (or Capron)
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner.

Description

The David Provost was a wooden schooner built in 1864, measuring approximately 89 feet in length and 22 feet in beam. It was registered out of Detroit and primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.

History

The David Provost was constructed by Squires in Huron, Ohio, and was primarily engaged in trade routes across the Great Lakes. It was lost in 1887 during a storm while carrying brick ballast from Chatham, Ontario, to Sault Ste. Marie.

Significant Incidents

  • Final Incident: On September 12, 1887, the vessel encountered a sudden fall storm with intense winds and waves, leading to its foundering and sinking near Detour Passage Lighthouse.
  • Crew Survival: All crew members survived the incident, with no fatalities reported.

Final Disposition

The David Provost was declared a constructive total loss after the storm. Despite being raised twice in salvage attempts, the vessel sank again each time, indicating significant structural damage. Ultimately, it was abandoned on the lake bottom.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the David Provost remains unrecoverable and lies on the lakebed near Detour Passage. Further exploration and sonar mapping could help identify its precise location and condition.

Resources & Links

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The schooner David Provost launched in 1864 foundered on Lake Huron amid stormy conditions on September 12, 1887, en route from Chatham to Sault Ste. Marie. Despite raising attempts, she sank twice and was ultimately declared a total loss. The crew survived, and the wreck remains on the lakebed near Detour Passage. Further archival research—such as crew lists, salvage documentation, and survey efforts—could provide additional insights into the vessel’s final hours and condition.

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.

(wooden schooner, built 1864)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: David Provost
  • Official Number: 6384
  • Built: 1864 by Squires, Huron, Ohio
  • Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Dimensions: Approximately 89 ft × 22 ft × 7 ft; ~99 GRT
  • Owner (at loss): Registered out of Detroit, ownership attributed to Carron (or Capron)
  • Registry Status: Lost in 1887; never re-entered into records (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Incident – September 12, 1887

  • Route: Bound for Sault Ste. Marie (S.S. Marie) from Chatham, Ontario, carrying brick ballast
  • Location: Near Detour Passage Lighthouse, Lake Huron
  • Weather: Hit by a sudden fall storm—intense winds and waves swept the vessel
  • Incident: The schooner foundered during the storm and sank; she was declared a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
  • Crew: All survived; no fatalities reported

Post-Loss Events

  • The David Provost was raised twice, likely as salvage attempts to recover the hull or cargo
  • After each raise, she sank again—indicating significant structural damage or persistent leaks
  • Ultimately, she remained unrecoverable and was abandoned on the lake bottom (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)

Final Disposition

  • Declared: Constructive total loss
  • Salvage: Planned but unsuccessful; hull abandoned underwater
  • Registry: Struck following the 1887 incident; vessel never repaired or returned to service

Archival Sources

Research Gaps & Opportunities

  • Crew Manifest & Roles: Names, ranks, and testimonies are not documented. Chatham newspaper archives (e.g., Chatham Daily News, Sept 1887) may contain survivor accounts.
  • Salvage Records: Details on who attempted salvage, under whose authority, and technical reports may appear in Detroit port or marine insurance ledgers.
  • Final Wreck Location: Precise coordinates are unspecified; sonar mapping and Lake Huron charts could help identify debris field near Detour Passage.
  • Condition Reports: Survey examination of underwater remains could reveal hull failure points and extent of damage.

Summary

The schooner David Provost launched in 1864 foundered on Lake Huron amid stormy conditions on September 12, 1887, en route from Chatham to Sault Ste. Marie. Despite raising attempts, she sank twice and was ultimately declared a total loss. The crew survived, and the wreck remains on the lakebed near Detour Passage. Further archival research—such as crew lists, salvage documentation, and survey efforts—could provide additional insights into the vessel’s final hours and condition.

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