E.M. Foster

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: E.M. Foster
• Type: Steamer
• Year Built: 1882
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Unknown
• Location: Lake Huron
• Coordinates: Not recorded
• Official Number: Unknown
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The E.M. Foster was a wooden-hulled steam-powered vessel, likely used for freight or passenger operations on the Great Lakes. Built in 1882, she operated during an era of transition from sail to steam. Like many steamers of the 1880s, she would have carried a vertical or compound steam engine with twin boilers, designed for reliable lake navigation.

Description

Details about the early career of the E.M. Foster remain scarce, though records confirm her construction in 1882. She likely served on Lake Huron or other connected Great Lakes routes. Her role could have included general cargo, bulk materials, or possibly timber, given the economic activity in the region during the late 19th century.

History

On October 8, 1888, the E.M. Foster was caught in a storm while underway on Lake Huron. The severity of the conditions caused her to capsize. Unusually, her engines were reported to have “fallen out”—a rare and violent failure indicating catastrophic structural compromise. The hull then drifted ashore stripped of her machinery and upperworks.

Despite attempts to salvage what remained of her, she was declared a total loss on October 11, 1888.

Significant Incidents

• Loss Date: October 8, 1888
• Cause of Loss: Storm (presumed)
• Final Disposition: Capsized and drifted ashore; engines and upperworks lost. Declared a total loss after salvage on October 11, 1888.

Final Disposition

The E.M. Foster capsized during a storm and drifted ashore, losing her engines and upperworks. She was declared a total loss shortly after the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The exact site of the wreck is unconfirmed, and the current condition of the wreck is unknown.

Resources & Links

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The E.M. Foster remains a significant part of Lake Huron’s maritime history, illustrating the challenges faced by vessels during the transition to steam power in the late 19th century.