Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Elisha C. Blish
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam tug
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Charles Hinman and Blish & Co.
- Dimensions: 81 × 16 × 9 ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 107 gross tons
- Location: Mid-lake Huron
- Coordinates: Coordinates not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Elisha C. Blish was a wooden propeller-driven steam tug, also documented in some sources as a schooner.
Description
Built in 1857 at Black River, Ohio, the Elisha C. Blish was initially named Mary Ballard. It measured approximately 81 feet in length, 16 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth, with a registered tonnage of around 107 gross tons.
History
Launched in 1857, the Elisha C. Blish served primarily as a propeller tug, likely engaged in freight support and towing operations around southern Lake Huron. It was noted that the vessel was sometimes configured or recorded as a schooner. A significant incident occurred on April 15, 1862, when the tug sank near Algonac due to a steam pump malfunction. After being salvaged, it returned to service before its final disappearance in 1864.
Significant Incidents
- April 15, 1862: Sank near Algonac due to a steam pump malfunction; salvaged and returned to service.
Final Disposition
The Elisha C. Blish went missing in 1864 without a trace, presumed to have foundered in mid-lake Huron. All crew members, including Captain A. G. Peer, were lost, with no survivors or bodies recovered.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Elisha C. Blish remains undiscovered, with its hull structure, machinery, or debris field presumed to lie at an unknown depth in mid-lake Huron. No precise coordinates have been recorded for the last known position.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”elisha-c-blish-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The disappearance of the Elisha C. Blish serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by early steam navigation on the Great Lakes. Its loss, particularly following a previous sinking and refit, highlights the need for further research into mid-century vessel lifecycles and maritime safety.
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.
Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Elisha C. Blish (alternately seen as E.C. Blish or E.D. Blish; originally named Mary Ballard)
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam tug (also documented in sources as a schooner)
- Built: 1857 at Black River, Ohio, by Charles Hinman and Blish & Co.
- Approximate Size: 81 × 16 × 9 ft; around 107 gross tons (as reported) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: 1864 (no specific day recorded)
- Location: Lake Huron – mid-lake position (coordinates not documented) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type of Loss: Went missing without trace—likely foundered
- Casualties: Total loss of crew (“all”) – no survivors or bodies recovered (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Master: Captain A. G. Peer (who was also lost) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel History & Operational Role
- Launched in 1857 and initially served as a propeller tug—likely engaged in freight support and towing around southern Lake Huron.
- Registries note it was also sometimes configured or recorded as a schooner.
- A prior incident occurred on April 15, 1862: she sank near Algonac when a steam pump was inadvertently reversed. She was salvaged and returned to service before her final disappearance (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Wreck Site & Condition
- Last Known Position: Mid-lake Huron; no precise coordinates recorded.
- Condition: Wreck remains undiscovered; presumed hull structure, machinery, or debris field lie at unknown depth.
Notices & Navigational Risks
- No Notices to Mariners were issued; no hazards charted—the disappearance likely occurred in remote lake areas with little traffic.
Sources & Citations
- Official records from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“B” list) specify vessel details, incidents, loss circumstances, master’s name, and cargo ambiguity (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps
| Research Area | Proposed Next Step |
|---|---|
| Exact loss date & location | Search 1864 Lake Huron newspapers (Detroit Free Press, Port Huron Times, Sault Star) for disappearance notice. |
| Crew list and ownership | Review enrollment logs and registry uploads associated with Blish & Co. and Capt. Peer. |
| Salvage or follow-up reports | Check maritime insurer archives or marine board proceedings for missing-vessel inquiry. |
| Rediscovery efforts | Conduct targeted side-scan sonar searches in the mid-lake region near Algonac transit corridors. |
| Machinery documentation | If survey uncovers wreck, aim to document propeller, boiler fragments, and hull remnants for industrial chronology. |
Historical & Archaeological Significance
Elisha C. Blish presents a rare case of a 19th-century wooden steam tug that vanished with all hands—a stark reminder of the perilous nature of early steam navigation on the Great Lakes. Her disappearance, particularly with a previously reported sinking and refit, marks her as a compelling candidate for helmed research into mid-century vessel lifecycle, early safety systems, and maritime disappearance phenomena. Locating her remains would fill gaps in Great Lakes steam tug archaeology and mid-lake navigation history.
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