Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dictator
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 281 tons (old measure)
- Location: Open waters of Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: M. M. Drake of Buffalo, NY
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Wooden-hulled cargo schooner, rigged for large bulk cargoes, often towed by steamers during transit
Description
The Dictator was a sizable cargo schooner (approx. 281 tons) designed for transporting wheat and other grain across the Great Lakes. Her wooden construction followed regional design of mid-19th-century schooners, with a plain bow and flush deck. At the time of the incident, she was fully loaded with 21,000 bushels of wheat.
History
On November 21, 1880, while under tow—sources vary between the steamers Morely or Jarvis Lord, depending on newspaper reporting—Dictator began taking on water during a storm. Her skipper ordered abandonment to the tow vessel. Shortly thereafter, Dictator lurched to starboard and sank rapidly to her decks in mid-lake conditions. There were no casualties reported.
(Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Earlier in her operational history (1871), Dictator had already been sunk at South Manitou Island harbor when the steamer Jay Gould rammed her while docked. She was rebuilt and converted into a barge that same year.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Significant Incidents
- Earlier Incident: Sank at dock via collision by Jay Gould at South Manitou in 1871.
Final Disposition
Status: No wreck has been positively located. The 1880 loss occurred mid-lake under severe conditions and remains undived/unidentified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known navigational notices specific to the wreck. The sinking at anchor and mid-lake towing accident were incidents, not harbor hazards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dictator-1856″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion:
The cargo schooner Dictator was lost while under tow during a Lake Michigan storm in November 1880. The dual account of tow vessel—Morely or Jarvis Lord—reflects the ambiguity in historic news sources. She carried a heavy grain cargo and sank rapidly with no reported casualties. A previous sinking in 1871 at South Manitou was followed by her rebuild before the final loss. No physical wreck identification has yet been recorded.
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.
(1856–1880)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dictator (sometimes misrecorded as “Die Vernon”)
- Built: 1856, wooden schooner, 281 tons (old measure)
- Owner (at loss): M. M. Drake of Buffalo, NY
- Final Loss: November 21, 1880, on Lake Michigan, reportedly while under tow
- Route: Bound with 21,000 bushels of wheat; likely from Milwaukee or Chicago westward toward Buffalo via Detroit
- Tow Vessel: Tow line fastened to Morely or Jarvis Lord according to varying newspaper accounts
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Vessel Type
- Type: Wooden-hulled cargo schooner, rigged for large bulk cargoes, often towed by steamers during transit
Description
The Dictator was a sizable cargo schooner (approx. 281 tons) designed for transporting wheat and other grain across the Great Lakes. Her wooden construction followed regional design of mid‑19th‑century schooners, with a plain bow and flush deck. At the time of the incident, she was fully loaded with 21,000 bushels of wheat.
History & Final Disposition
On November 21, 1880, while under tow—sources vary between the steamers Morely or Jarvis Lord, depending on newspaper reporting—Dictator began taking on water during a storm. Her skipper ordered abandonment to the tow vessel. Shortly thereafter, Dictator lurched to starboard and sank rapidly to her decks in mid-lake conditions. There were no casualties reported.
(Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Earlier in her operational history (1871), Dictator had already been sunk at South Manitou Island harbor when the steamer Jay Gould rammed her while docked. She was rebuilt and converted into a barge that same year.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Located By & Date Found
- Status: No wreck has been positively located. The 1880 loss occurred mid-lake under severe conditions and remains undived/unidentified.
Notmars & Advisories
- No known navigational notices specific to the wreck. The sinking at anchor and mid-lake towing accident were incidents, not harbor hazards.
Archival References
- WordPress summary of Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“D” entries) lists Dictator, its sinking while under tow and earlier harbor sinking, and conflicting tow steamer names.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Dictator |
| Built | 1856 |
| Type | Wooden cargo schooner |
| Loss Date | November 21, 1880 |
| Cargo | 21,000 bu wheat |
| Tow Vessel | Morely or Jarvis Lord |
| Cause of Loss | Took on water during storm; sank while under tow |
| Location | Open waters of Lake Michigan |
| Casualties | None |
| Earlier Incident | Sank at dock via collision by Jay Gould at South Manitou 1871 |
| Wreck Found | No known wreck site identified |
Notes & Recommendations for Further Research
- Newspaper archives (Nov 1880): Detroit Free Press, Chicago Daily Tribune, Buffalo Courier, and Bay City local papers may clarify which steamer towed Dictator and provide eyewitness accounts.
- Tow vessel logs: Logs from Morley or Jarvis Lord may offer confirmation of the tow and sinking sequence.
- Registry files: Official enrollment or enrollment changes may provide full tonnage details and owner/operator data.
- Sonar search: Given the lack of dive reports, a sidescan survey in probable sinking corridors (off Michigan coast or near shipping lanes) could identify structural remains.
Conclusion:
The cargo schooner Dictator was lost while under tow during a Lake Michigan storm in November 1880. The dual account of tow vessel—Morely or Jarvis Lord—reflects the ambiguity in historic news sources. She carried a heavy grain cargo and sank rapidly with no reported casualties. A previous sinking in 1871 at South Manitou was followed by her rebuild before the final loss. No physical wreck identification has yet been recorded.