Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Eliphalet Cramer
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Gilsen (Gelson), Milwaukee
- Dimensions: 105 ft (32 m); Beam 20 ft; Depth of hold 9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 161 gross tons
- Location: Mouth of the Manistee River, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Chicago-registered at time of loss
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner
Description
The Eliphalet Cramer was a wooden schooner built in 1847, measuring 105 feet in length, with a beam of 20 feet and a depth of 9 feet. At the time of her loss, she was carrying lumber.
History
Constructed in Milwaukee, the Eliphalet Cramer was registered in Chicago at the time of her loss. She was surrendered in Chicago in 1859 after being declared a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Date & Location: Early May 1858, mouth of the Manistee River, Lake Michigan.
- Event: Caught in a storm, the vessel was driven ashore and wrecked beyond salvage.
- Outcome: Declared a total loss, with the registry surrendered in Chicago the following year.
- Casualties: None mentioned—no crew loss was reported.
Final Disposition
The Eliphalet Cramer was declared a total loss after being wrecked in a storm. Her registry was formally surrendered in Chicago by 1859.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and accessibility details are unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”eliphalet-cramer-1847″ title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the Eliphalet Cramer serves as a reminder of the maritime challenges faced by vessels in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Further research may uncover more about her final moments and the conditions that led to her loss.
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.
(Wooden Schooner, built 1847; lost May 1858)
Identification & Vessel Details
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Built: 1847 at Gilsen (Gelson), Milwaukee
- Dimensions: 105 ft length × 20 ft beam × 9 ft depth; approximately 161 gross tons
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Lumber
- Ownership: Chicago-registered at time of loss
- Registry: Surrendered in Chicago in 1859 after confirmation of total loss (Internet Archive, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident Overview (May 1858)
- Date & Location: Early May 1858, mouth of the Manistee River, Lake Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Event: Caught in a storm, the vessel was driven ashore and wrecked beyond salvage
- Outcome: Declared a total loss, with the registry surrendered in Chicago the following year (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None mentioned—no crew loss was reported
Summary
Built in 1847 in Milwaukee, the Eliphalet Cramer was a 105‑ft wooden schooner carrying lumber when she was wrecked off the mouth of the Manistee River in a storm in May 1858. Forced ashore and irreparably damaged, she was declared a total loss, and her registry was formally surrendered in Chicago by 1859. No loss of life was recorded (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Recommended Further Research
| Focus Area | Research Objective | Suggested Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Precise grounding location | To map wreck site or evaluate remains | Manistee Harbor records; contemporaneous newspapers |
| Detailed storm conditions | To contextualize the gale that caused the loss | NOAA historical weather logs, lumber shipping logs |
| Crew and captain details | To document surviving crew or evidence of rescue | Enrollment records; shipping manifests |
| Wreck salvage or debris | To establish whether lumber or hull was recovered | Harbor master logs; salvage operation reports |
| Registry surrender documentation | Provides legal record and post-wreck status | Chicago port authority or Customs records |
- Searching May 1858 regional newspapers (e.g., Manistee News, Milwaukee Sentinel) for grounding reports?
- Accessing Chicago registry archives to view the official surrender documents?
- Locating NOAA storm data for Lake Michigan during early May 1858?
- Finding Manistee harbor logs or salvage records related to the event?