Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Emma A. Mayes
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (twin-masted)
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Philander Lester
- Dimensions: 169.9 ft (51.8 m); Beam 30.5 ft; Depth of hold 9.9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 429 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 164.59 m / 540 ft
- Location: Approximately 7 miles off Grand Island, Lake Superior
- Official Number: 8722
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Emma A. Mayes was a wooden schooner-barge, characterized by its twin masts and designed primarily for the transportation of lumber and other cargo across the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1871 in Marine City, Michigan, the Emma A. Mayes was built by Philander Lester. It measured 169.9 feet in length, 30.5 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 9.9 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 429 tons and was capable of carrying approximately 80,000 board feet of lumber.
History
Launched in May 1871, the Emma A. Mayes was primarily used in the lumber trade, operating out of Detroit and Bay City. It functioned mainly as a sailing barge towed by steam tugs across the Great Lakes. Notable incidents during its operational history include surviving a gale in 1875 while in tow of the propeller Equinox, which sank, and being towed by the tug Music in 1884.
Significant Incidents
- 1875 (Sep 10): In tow of propeller Equinox during a gale; Equinox sank with loss of life, but Emma A. Mayes survived.
- 1884 (May 9): In tow by tug Music in Lake Superior.
Final Disposition
The Emma A. Mayes sank on May 10, 1884, while en route from Bay City to Port Arthur. The vessel was towed by the tug Music when it struck an ice floe due to an ice jam near Grand Island, resulting in a rapid sinking in approximately 90 fathoms (about 540 feet) of water. The cargo at the time of sinking included 850 tons of stove coal. Fortunately, the crew survived, and there are no records of loss of life.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Emma A. Mayes is located approximately 7 miles off Grand Island in Lake Superior, resting at a depth of around 540 feet. The site is deep and unpenetrable by divers, and the wreck is likely fully intact but inaccessible. There is no record of salvage, and it is presumed to be untouched and buried in deep freshwater.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”emma-a-mayes-us-8722″ title=”References & Links”]
The sinking of the Emma A. Mayes serves as a significant historical event, illustrating the risks associated with ice hazards for tow vessels and barges in Lake Superior during the spring run-offs. Its loss, along with a substantial coal cargo, highlights the early industrial logistical operations on the Great Lakes.
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
- Vessel Name: Emma A. Mayes
- Official Number: 8 722
- Year Built: 1871 in Marine City, Michigan
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge (twin-masted)
- Builder: Philander Lester
- Dimensions: 169.9′ L × 30.5′ beam × 9.9′ depth
- Tonnage: 429 gross tons
- Cargo Capacity: ~80,000 board feet of lumber
- Registry: Detroit, MI; later in tow on Lake Superior
Operational History
- Launched in May 1871 for lumber trade interiors; based out of Detroit and Bay City
- Functioned primarily as a sailing barge towed by steam tugs across Great Lakes
- Documented incidents:
- 1875 (Sep 10): In tow of propeller Equinox during a gale; Equinox sank with loss of life, but Emma A. Mayes survived
- 1884 (May 9): In tow by tug Music in Lake Superior
Final Voyage & Sinking
- Date of Loss: 10 May 1884
- Route: Bay City to Port Arthur
- Tow Vessel: Tug Music
- Cause: Ice jam near Grand Island, Lake Superior; barge struck ice floe and sank rapidly in deep water (90 fathoms / ~540 ft) (uplink.nmu.edu, aos.wisc.edu)
- Cargo: 850 tons of stove coal
- Casualties: Crew survived; there is no record of loss of life
Wreck Site & Condition
- Final Location: Approximately 7 miles off Grand Island, Lake Superior, in 90 fathoms (≈540 ft) of water
- Site Condition: Deep and unpenetrable by divers; wreck likely fully intact but inaccessible
- Salvage Status: No record of salvage; likely untouched and buried in deep freshwater
Significance
- The Emma A. Mayes illustrates the risk of ice hazards for tow vessels and barges in Lake Superior during spring run-offs
- Her loss with a substantial coal cargo highlights the early industrial logistical operations on the Great Lakes
- The 1884 sinking contributes to understanding early barge‑tow interactions with seasonal ice and lake navigation challenges
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Build Year | 1871 |
| Type | Wooden schooner‑barge |
| Dimensions | 169.9′ × 30.5′ × 9.9′ |
| Gross Tonnage | 429 GT |
| Cargo | 850 tons stove coal |
| Tow Vessel | Tug Music |
| Date of Sinking | 10 May 1884 |
| Location | ~7 mi off Grand Island, Lake Superior |
| Depth | ~540 ft (90 fathoms) |
| Cause | Ice floe collision (ice jam) |
| Loss of Life | None recorded |
Research Sources
- Historical weather/loss data: “On May 10, 1884, the wood schooner‑barge … sank in an ice jam.”
- Shipping record note: “The barge Emma Mayes … wintered at Grand Island, sank in Lake Superior on her way from Grand Island to Port Arthur.” (uplink.nmu.edu)
Recommended Research Leads
- Marine Board Records (c. 1884): Likely include formal sinking report and cargo loss valuation
- Newspaper Archives: Escanaba Daily Press, Duluth Herald, Port Arthur News (May 1884) for eyewitness and logistical accounts
- Ice Jam Studies: Industrial-era hydrology reports on Grand Island may mention this sinking event