Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Equinox
- Type: Wooden-hulled, screw-propelled steamship
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Frederick Nelson Jones
- Dimensions: 184 ft (56.08 m) × 31 ft (9.45 m) × 11.5 ft (3.51 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 620 65/95 tons (later revised to 870.51 GT in 1869; 875.51 GT in 1872)
- Location: Lake Michigan, ~8 miles off Big Sable Point
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 7232
- Original Owners: New York Central Railroad (initial); later Western Transit Co., Union Steamboat Co., Dwight D. Scott (Cleveland)
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Equinox was a wooden-hulled, screw-propelled freight and passenger steamer built for the New York Central Railroad. It was one of a series of sister ships (Eclipse, Equator, Sun) designed for service between Buffalo, Toledo, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
Description
The Equinox had a turbulent but lengthy career spanning 18 years, including multiple collisions, strandings, and repairs. Originally operating on Lake Erie routes, it was later reassigned to long-haul freight and passenger service across Lakes Michigan and Huron. By 1875, she had survived numerous rebuilds and remained in heavy service under charter to the Grand Trunk Railway.
History
- 1857: Enrolled in Buffalo, NY; began Sandusky Line service.
- 1864: Extended routes to Chicago and Milwaukee.
- 1866: Aground at Mud Lake (later freed); collision with schooner Darien at Cleveland.
- 1869: Collision with propeller Tonawanda off Point au Pelee; sustained damage.
- 1870: Sank in collision with bark Lafrinier in St. Clair River; raised and repaired.
- 1872: Purchased by Dwight D. Scott, Cleveland; tonnage revised.
- 1873: Major rebuild, dimensions revised.
- 1875: Chartered by Grand Trunk Railway for Chicago–Sarnia route.
Significant Incidents
- 25 crew members and passengers perished, making it one of Lake Michigan’s deadliest wrecks of the 1870s.
- 1 survivor was rescued two days later.
Final Disposition
On September 10, 1875, while carrying 6,708 barrels of salt on Lake Michigan, the Equinox foundered and sank ~8 miles off Big Sable Point. The cause remains uncertain—likely a combination of severe weather, hull failure, and heavy loading.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed location or wreck survey exists for the Equinox. It remains undiscovered in deep water off Big Sable Point. No modern hazards reported. Big Sable Point is charted, but the Equinox wreck has not been located or designated as a hazard.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”equinox-us-7532″ title=”References & Links”]
The Equinox was a wooden propeller steamer that epitomized the transition to larger bulk carriers on the Great Lakes. Despite a career marked by repeated collisions and groundings, it remained a vital transport link until its tragic loss in 1875, with heavy casualties. Today, the wreck remains undiscovered, a major missing vessel of Lake Michigan.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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