Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Eber Ward
- Type: Package Freight Propeller (Bulk Freighter)
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: F.W. Wheeler & Co.
- Dimensions: 213 ft (65 m); Beam: 37 ft (11.3 m); Depth of hold: 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,344 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 43 m / 145 ft
- Location: Straits of Mackinac, 5 miles west of Mackinac Bridge, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Bow: N45 48.728 W084 49.133; Stern: N45 48.763 W084 49.133
- Original Owners: Various including Detroit & Lake Superior Line, Union Transit Company, Hecla Transportation Company, John Boland
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Eber Ward was a wooden-hulled package freighter designed for bulk and package freight transport. Built in 1888, the vessel featured a two-deck layout with an advanced powered unloading system for grain cargo. It exemplified late 19th-century shipbuilding with its robust wooden hull supported by diagonal steel straps and modern safety features like watertight bulkheads.
Description
The Eber Ward was constructed by F.W. Wheeler & Co. in West Bay City, Michigan, and launched in July 1888. Named after Eber Brock Ward, a prominent shipowner and industrialist, the vessel served as a freight carrier for various companies, including the Detroit & Lake Superior Line, Union Transit Company, and Hecla Transportation Company.
In its later years, the vessel was purchased by John Boland of Buffalo, New York, for conversion into a lumber carrier but continued to transport freight until its final voyage.
History
On April 19, 1909, the Eber Ward departed Chicago en route to Milwaukee to load a cargo of 55,000 bushels of corn destined for Port Huron. While navigating the icy Straits of Mackinac on April 20, the vessel encountered deceptively navigable slush and windrow ice.
Captain Timese Lemay, underestimating the severity of the ice, pressed forward. The ship struck an ice flow, tearing its bow open. Within 10 minutes, the Eber Ward sank, leaving the crew with little time to react.
Significant Incidents
Casualties
- James Perry – Watchman
- John Leubrath – Fireman
- John Hern
- Kinney McKay – Deckhand
- Unnamed Person
Survivors
- Captain Timese LeMay – Detroit
- A. P. Callino – First Mate
- Frank Baldwin – Chief Engineer, Detroit
- S. R. Shipman – Second Engineer
- Charles Lester – Wheelsman
- Frank Gutch – Wheelsman
- John Winterhaler – Steward
- Mrs. Winterhaler – Detroit (John’s Wife)
- August Palmer – Deckhand
The survivors were rescued by the steamer Bennington, responding to distress signals, and brought to Mackinaw City for medical attention. A subsequent investigation found Captain Lemay guilty of misconduct, negligence, and inattention, resulting in the revocation of his master’s license.
Final Disposition
Rediscovered in 1980, the wreck of the Eber Ward is part of the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. The vessel rests upright on the lakebed, offering a well-preserved dive site featuring historical artifacts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Bow and stern buoys are available from late May to mid-September. The site is accessible for advanced divers with proper equipment and planning.
Resources & Links
The Eber Ward serves as a poignant reminder of the hazards faced by Great Lakes mariners in the early 20th century. Its sinking highlights the peril of navigating ice-laden waters and the human cost of maritime disasters. Today, the wreck captivates divers and historians alike, offering a glimpse into the past and preserving the legacy of a vessel that once played a vital role in Great Lakes commerce.