Dictator (1856)

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.