Ellen Williams – Other Schooner Shipwreck (1906)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Ellen Williams
• Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
• Year Built: 1855
• Builder: Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Callum's Bay, Bois Blanc Island, Detroit River
• Official Number: 7308
• Original Owners: Under tow by the tug Miner in 1906
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden two-masted schooner, built in 1855 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Description

The Ellen Williams was a wooden schooner that met its demise on May 13, 1906, while under tow by the tug Miner. The vessel collided with a known underwater obstruction in the Detroit River, which had previously caused damage to larger vessels.

History

Throughout its service, the Ellen Williams was primarily used for cargo transport. The vessel was under tow when it encountered the submerged obstruction, leading to its sinking in Callum’s Bay.

Significant Incidents

• Loss Date: May 13, 1906
• Cause: Struck submerged obstruction near Bois Blanc Island
• Aftermath: Sank in Callum’s Bay; declared unrecoverable
• Casualties: None reported

Final Disposition

The Ellen Williams sank in Callum’s Bay and was declared a total loss. The vessel’s registry documents were not surrendered until 1910, indicating abandonment without salvage attempts.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Ellen Williams may still be present in Callum’s Bay. A targeted sonar dive could potentially identify her remains and the submerged obstruction that caused her sinking.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ellen-williams-us-7308″ title=”References & Links”]

Research opportunities include examining newspaper accounts from May 1906, retrieving logs from the tug Miner, and locating historical hydrographic charts of the area. These efforts could provide further insights into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Ellen Williams.