Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E.R. WILLIAMS
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Bailey Brothers, Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: 137 × 26 × 12 ft (41.8 × 7.9 × 3.7 m); 294 gross / 279 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 294 gross / 279 net tons
- Location: Near St. Martin’s Island, Green Bay mouth, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 8987
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden-hulled, two-masted lake schooner adapted for bulk cargo (iron ore) and regularly towed by steamers—a classic design of the late 1800s Great Lakes fleet.
Description
At approximately 42 m long with a 7.9 m beam and 3.7 m depth, E.R. WILLIAMS was a substantial schooner primarily used for industrial freight. Built in when wooden vessels dominated the Great Lakes, she combined capacity with traditional sail design.
History
Constructed in Toledo in 1873, E.R. WILLIAMS plied the Upper Great Lakes hauling heavy ore, undergoing major repairs in 1881. On 22 September 1895, while en route from Escanaba to Toledo laden with iron ore and under tow by the steam barge Santa Maria, she was struck by a southwest gale. In moments, her sails were shredded and her towline broke. The schooner foundered near St. Martin’s Island. The crew abandoned ship in the yawl, spent a night adrift, and were rescued the next day by the steamer Osceola. Her masts were later sighted protruding from the bay—marking the wreck site.
Significant Incidents
- 22 September 1895: Caught in a sudden storm while under tow by the steamer Santa Maria, the E.R. Williams foundered and sank.
- All 8 crew members aboard survived the incident.
Final Disposition
Sank and settled on the bottom near the mouth of Green Bay, off St. Martin’s Island. Her hull remains undisturbed underwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Wreck location was visually confirmed via masts above water immediately after sinking. No modern excavation or precise GPS-mapping surveys recorded; site remains identified only by historic observations.
- No current NOAA chart hazards, though masts briefly marked the peril post-loss.
- Deep-water wreck, not within typical recreational dive limits—likely resting in 30–60 m (100–200 ft) of water.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-r-williams-us-8987″ title=”References & Links”]
The E.R. WILLIAMS, a 1873 wooden schooner, sank in a sudden gale on 22 September 1895 off the mouth of Green Bay while towing iron ore aboard barge Santa Maria. The crew survived after a harrowing night, and her wreck was initially marked by emergent masts. Its precise resting location has not been revisited by modern survey expeditions.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E.R. WILLIAMS
- Official Number: 8987 (angelfire.com)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873 by Bailey Brothers, Toledo, Ohio (angelfire.com)
- Dimensions: 137 × 26 × 12 ft (41.8 × 7.9 × 3.7 m); 294 gross / 279 net tons (angelfire.com)
- Date Lost: 22 September 1895 (angelfire.com)
- Location of Loss: Near St. Martin’s Island, Green Bay mouth, Lake Michigan (angelfire.com)
- Cause of Loss: Caught in sudden storm while under tow by steamer Santa Maria; foundered and sank (angelfire.com)
- Cargo: Iron ore (angelfire.com)
- Casualties: None of 8 aboard lost (angelfire.com)
Vessel Type
A wooden-hulled, two-masted lake schooner adapted for bulk cargo (iron ore) and regularly towed by steamers—a classic design of the late 1800s Great Lakes fleet.
Description
At approximately 42 m long with a 7.9 m beam and 3.7 m depth, E.R. WILLIAMS was a substantial schooner primarily used for industrial freight. Built in when wooden vessels dominated the Great Lakes, she combined capacity with traditional sail design.
History
Constructed in Toledo in 1873, E.R. WILLIAMS plied the Upper Great Lakes hauling heavy ore, undergoing major repairs in 1881 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, angelfire.com). On 22 September 1895, while en route from Escanaba to Toledo laden with iron ore and under tow by the steam barge Santa Maria, she was struck by a southwest gale. In moments, her sails were shredded and her towline broke. The schooner foundered near St. Martin’s Island. The crew abandoned ship in the yawl, spent a night adrift, and were rescued the next day by the steamer Osceola. Her masts were later sighted protruding from the bay—marking the wreck site (angelfire.com).
Final Disposition
Sank and settled on the bottom near the mouth of Green Bay, off St. Martin’s Island. Her hull remains undisturbed underwater.
Located By & Date Found
Wreck location was visually confirmed via masts above water immediately after sinking. No modern excavation or precise GPS-mapping surveys recorded; site remains identified only by historic observations.
Notations & Advisories
- No current NOAA chart hazards, though masts briefly marked the peril post-loss.
- Deep-water wreck, not within typical recreational dive limits—likely resting in 30–60 m (100–200 ft) of water.
Resources & Links
- Angelfire summary quoting David Swayze’s data: (npshistory.com, angelfire.com)
- Weather storm record referencing southwest gale of 22 September 1895:
- Great Lakes historical loss roundup mentioning the schooner: (linkstothepast.com)
Conclusion
The E.R. WILLIAMS, a 1873 wooden schooner, sank in a sudden gale on 22 September 1895 off the mouth of Green Bay while towing iron ore aboard barge Santa Maria. The crew survived after a harrowing night, and her wreck was initially marked by emergent masts. Its precise resting location has not been revisited by modern survey expeditions.
Suggested Next Steps
- Investigate NOAA chart data or local sonar surveys near St. Martin’s Island for wreck confirmation.
- Explore historical salvage permits or diving logs for possible site identification.
- Locate Osceola ship’s log or crew accounts for more detailed chronology of crew rescue.
- Potential dive planning: anticipate ~50–60 m (165–200 ft) depth, strong currents, and requirement for technical diving gear.