E. S. J. Bemis (1855)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: E. S. J. Bemis
• Type: Schooner (Two-masted)
• Year Built: 1855
• Builder: S. Ruggles, Milan, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length: 119 ft (36.3 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 294 tons
• Location: Approximately 15 miles off Port Rowan, Ontario
• Original Owners: John Stewart (Detroit or Buffalo)
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The E. S. J. Bemis was a two-masted wooden schooner built for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes. Its size and capacity—119 feet long and capable of carrying 294 tons—made it well-suited for the bustling mid-19th-century trade routes. Schooners like the Bemis were integral to the economic fabric of the Great Lakes, ferrying essential goods such as grain, iron, and other materials between major ports.

Description

The E. S. J. Bemis experienced a series of calamities that marred its operational life:

January 22, 1862: The schooner collided with the propeller Dunkirk in the Detroit River while carrying railroad iron, resulting in its sinking. Salvage efforts were successful, and the vessel was repaired and returned to service.

September 20, 1870: Laden with 14,000 bushels of wheat, the Bemis departed Detroit bound for Buffalo. While navigating Lake Erie, a fierce storm near Port Rowan, Ontario, caused the vessel to spring a leak and founder. The crew escaped in the yawl and reached shore safely.

The schooner had already experienced salvage efforts earlier that year. In April 1861, after its collision with the Dunkirk, chains, screws, and steam pumps were used to raise the vessel. It was eventually towed to Clark’s drydock for repairs. However, the repairs and salvages seemed to prolong the inevitable, as the Bemis ultimately succumbed to the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie.

History

The E. S. J. Bemis sank on September 20, 1870, approximately 15 miles off Port Rowan, Ontario. Despite salvage attempts in October of the same year by the tug Sarah E. Bryant, the vessel and its cargo were deemed a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• The E. S. J. Bemis collided with the propeller Dunkirk on January 22, 1862, resulting in its sinking. It was salvaged and repaired.
• On September 20, 1870, the Bemis sank during a storm while carrying wheat, with the crew escaping safely.

Final Disposition

The wreck remains undiscovered, with no modern attempts documented to locate its precise position. There are no specific NOTMARs or advisories associated with the Bemis wreck. The location is approximate and poses no known navigational hazard today.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the E. S. J. Bemis has not been definitively located. Its approximate location off Port Rowan, Ontario, remains a point of historical interest rather than active exploration.

Resources & Links

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The story of the E. S. J. Bemis exemplifies the challenges faced by 19th-century sailors navigating the Great Lakes. From its collision with the Dunkirk to its final demise off Port Rowan, the schooner endured a tumultuous history. Despite salvage efforts and repairs, the Bemis met its tragic end while transporting a valuable cargo of wheat. Today, the Bemis serves as a poignant reminder of the perilous conditions faced by maritime vessels of its era and the resilience of those who manned them. Though its wreck remains undiscovered, its legacy endures through historical records and tales of its ill-fated voyages.