Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: E. Kanter
- Type: Schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: McDole & Lester, Newport (now Marine City), Michigan
- Dimensions: 133 ft (40.5 m) length × 27 ft (8.2 m) beam × 11 ft (3.4 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 272 tons gross; 245 tons net
- Location: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Leland, Michigan
- Official Number: 8105
- Original Owners: Tremaine and Weeks, Detroit
- Number of Masts: Single-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, single-masted schooner-barge designed for bulk freight transport.
Description
The E. Kanter was a wooden schooner-barge constructed in 1862 by McDole & Lester in Newport, Michigan. Measuring 133 feet (40.5 metres) in length with a beam of 27 feet (8.2 metres) and a depth of 11 feet (3.4 metres), she had a gross tonnage of 272 and a net tonnage of 245. Designed for the transportation of bulk freight, she was commonly used to carry heavy cargoes such as railroad iron across the Great Lakes.
History
Throughout her decade-long service, the E. Kanter operated primarily on the Great Lakes, facilitating the movement of essential industrial materials during a period of rapid expansion in rail infrastructure. Her routes likely included various ports along Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, connecting manufacturing centers with growing urban markets.
Significant Incidents
- On November 26, 1872, while en route from Buffalo to Chicago with a cargo of 463 tons of railroad iron, the E. Kanter encountered a severe gale on Lake Michigan.
- The storm drove her ashore approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from Leland, Michigan.
- The vessel was subsequently stripped of valuable equipment before breaking up a few days later.
- Her valuable cargo was recovered the following May.
Final Disposition
On November 26, 1872, while en route from Buffalo to Chicago with a cargo of 463 tons of railroad iron, the E. Kanter encountered a severe gale on Lake Michigan. The storm drove her ashore approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from Leland, Michigan. The vessel was subsequently stripped of valuable equipment before breaking up a few days later. Notably, her valuable cargo was recovered the following May.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, the wreck of the E. Kanter has not been located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”edward-kanter-ellen-kanter-e-kanter-us-8105″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the E. Kanter underscores the challenges faced by maritime operations on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, particularly the dangers posed by sudden and severe storms. Her service contributed to the industrial growth of the region, and her demise serves as a testament to the perils of lake navigation during that era.
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. Kanter
- Former Names: Also recorded as Edward Kanter or Ellen Kanter
- Official Number: 8105
- Date Built & Launched: 1862, by McDole & Lester, Newport (now Marine City), Michigan
- Dimensions: 133 ft (40.5 m) length × 27 ft (8.2 m) beam × 11 ft (3.4 m) depth
- Gross Tonnage: 272 tons
- Net Tonnage: 245 tons
- Date Lost: November 26, 1872
- Location: Approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Leland, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Driven ashore by a gale
- Cargo: 463 tons of railroad iron
- Casualties: None reported
- Owner at Time of Loss: Tremaine and Weeks, Detroit(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, michiganshipwrecks.org, facebook.com, shipwreckmuseum.com)
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, single-masted schooner-barge designed for bulk freight transport.(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Description
The E. Kanter was a wooden schooner-barge constructed in 1862 by McDole & Lester in Newport, Michigan. Measuring 133 feet (40.5 metres) in length with a beam of 27 feet (8.2 metres) and a depth of 11 feet (3.4 metres), she had a gross tonnage of 272 and a net tonnage of 245. Designed for the transportation of bulk freight, she was commonly used to carry heavy cargoes such as railroad iron across the Great Lakes.(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
History
Throughout her decade-long service, the E. Kanter operated primarily on the Great Lakes, facilitating the movement of essential industrial materials during a period of rapid expansion in rail infrastructure. Her routes likely included various ports along Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, connecting manufacturing centers with growing urban markets.
Final Disposition
On November 26, 1872, while en route from Buffalo to Chicago with a cargo of 463 tons of railroad iron, the E. Kanter encountered a severe gale on Lake Michigan. The storm drove her ashore approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) from Leland, Michigan. The vessel was subsequently stripped of valuable equipment before breaking up a few days later. Notably, her valuable cargo was recovered the following May.
Located By & Date Found
As of current records, the wreck of the E. Kanter has not been located.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners or advisories regarding obstructions related to the E. Kanter wreck site.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The loss of the E. Kanter underscores the challenges faced by maritime operations on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, particularly the dangers posed by sudden and severe storms. Her service contributed to the industrial growth of the region, and her demise serves as a testament to the perils of lake navigation during that era.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: E. Kanter schooner-barge, 1872 Lake Michigan storm, railroad iron transport, Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Maritime History of Michigan, 19th Century Shipwrecks
- Glossary Terms:
- Schooner-Barge: A sailing vessel designed to carry bulk cargo, often towed by steamships.
- Railroad Iron: Iron rails used in the construction of railway tracks.
- Gale: A strong wind, typically used to describe wind speeds between 34 and 40 knots (63–74 km/h).