Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ella Murton
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: W. Jamieson, Mill Pt. (Deseronto), Ontario
- Dimensions: ~118′ long × 26′ beam × 10′ depth; ~229 GRT (gross/net)
- Registered Tonnage: 229 GRT
- Location: South Bay, Isle of Manitoulin, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: No precise GPS coordinates found
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden schooner-barge equipped with a crane
Description
The Ella Murton was a wooden schooner-barge built in 1875, designed for bulk freight operations. It was equipped with a crane, making it suitable for handling cargo efficiently.
History
The Ella Murton was constructed by W. Jamieson in Deseronto, Ontario. The vessel measured approximately 118 feet in length, with a beam of 26 feet and a depth of 10 feet, and had a registered tonnage of about 229 gross tons.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: November 3, 1903
- Location: South Bay, Isle of Manitoulin, Lake Huron
- Cause of Loss: Driven ashore and wrecked during a storm; details on cargo or casualties are not specified.
- Outcome: Vessel abandoned and destroyed by surf after stranding.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Ella Murton likely lies along the shoreline of South Bay, having been broken up by wave action. No precise GPS coordinates have been recorded for the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no recorded casualties or survivor accounts from the incident, suggesting that there may have been no loss of life, although crew specifics remain unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ella-murton-1875″ title=”References & Links”]
The Ella Murton was a 1875 wooden schooner-barge that grounded at South Bay on Manitoulin Island during a storm on November 3, 1903. Recorded in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, the event is sparsely documented, with no casualties noted. The remains likely rest along the bay’s shoreline, fragmented by wave action. Further historical and field investigation could reveal more about her final fate.
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 & Construction
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge equipped with a crane
- Built: 1875 by W. Jamieson, Mill Pt. (Deseronto), Ontario
- Dimensions: ~118′ long × 26′ beam × 10′ depth; ~229 GRT (gross/net)
- Equipment: Craned schooner‑barge ideal for bulk freight operations (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss Details
- Date of Loss: November 3, 1903
- Location: South Bay, Isle of Manitoulin, Lake Huron
- Cause of Loss: Driven ashore and wrecked during a storm; details on cargo or casualties are not specified (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Government of Canada Publications)
- Outcome: Vessel abandoned and destroyed by surf after stranding
Approximate Wreck Site
- South Bay, at the southern end of Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
- Wreck likely lies along the shoreline, broken up by wave action; no precise GPS coordinates found
Crew & Casualties
- No recorded casualties or survivor accounts—lack of detail in primary notes suggests no loss of life, but crew specifics remain unknown (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Sources & Citations
- Primary identification and loss event recorded in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Research Area | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Crew & Manifest Records | Query National Archives of Canada / U.S. Customs registers for personnel and cargo data |
| Contemporary News Reports | Search Ontario and Michigan press (Nov 1903) for grounding stories or crew rescue |
| Shore-based Survey | Conduct a shoreline survey of South Bay—potential visible wreckage at low water |
| Meteorological Context | Use historical storm data from Nov 1903 to identify storm severity and direction |
| Maritime Heritage Access | Contact Manitoulin Island museums and heritage groups for oral histories or local lore |
Summary
The Ella Murton was a 1875 wooden schooner-barge that grounded at South Bay on Manitoulin Island during a storm on November 3, 1903. Recorded in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, the event is sparsely documented, with no casualties noted. The remains likely rest along the bay’s shoreline, fragmented by wave action. Further historical and field investigation could reveal more about her final fate.
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