Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E. B. Perkins
- Type: Scow-schooner
- Year Built: circa 1867
- Builder: South Haven, Michigan
- Dimensions: Not specified — listed at 94 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 94 gross tons
- Location: Approximately 5 miles off St. Joseph, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Scow-schooner (wooden)
Description
The E. B. Perkins was a fishing vessel that operated as part of a fleet out of St. Joseph, Michigan. It was primarily used for carrying fishing gear.
History
The vessel was caught in a sudden storm on April 29, 1875, while laden with fishing equipment just outside St. Joseph harbor. The storm overwhelmed the vessel, leading to its sinking.
Significant Incidents
- On April 29, 1875, the E. B. Perkins was caught in a sudden storm while laden with fishing equipment.
Final Disposition
- Date of Final Loss: 29 April 1875
- Location: Approximately 5 miles off St. Joseph, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Overwhelmed by a fierce and sudden squall; vessel foundered and sank
- Casualties: Four total crew lost—all hands perished
- Wreck Status: Submerged; crew-collected wreckage brought ashore the following spring
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Wreck Condition: Likely lies in deep water with minimal structural remains
- Dive Accessibility: Unknown location and depth make diving impractical; site may be identified through sonar sweep based on drift reports
- Remains: Some floating wreckage recovered by local fishermen in the spring following the storm
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-b-perkins-1867″ title=”References & Links”]
The E. B. Perkins was a 94-ton scow-schooner fishing vessel lost in a sudden squall off St. Joseph on April 29, 1875. All four crew members drowned when the vessel foundered just outside harbor. Debris from the wreck washed ashore the following spring. Though the wreck lies unknown in deeper waters, further research into newspapers, local fishing records, underwriters’ casualty lists, and weather logs from April 1875 may uncover crew identities, storm details, or the precise sinking location.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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