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 Card (Site Style)

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.

History

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.

Key Events in the Vessel’s 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.

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.

Casualties and Rescue

• 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.

Ship’s documents were officially surrendered January 31, 1882, at Port Huron, Michigan.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed location or wreck survey exists for the Equinox. It remains undiscovered in deep water off Big Sable Point.

Notmars & Advisories

No modern hazards reported. Big Sable Point is charted, but the Equinox wreck has not been located or designated as a hazard.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Edward J. Dowling Collection – University of Detroit Mercy
• H.G. Runge Collection – Milwaukee Public Library
• Beers, History of the Great Lakes
• Tatley, Richard – Steamboat Era in the Muskokas

References

1. Beers, History of the Great Lakes – vessel history and loss account.
2. David Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwreck File – Equinox entry.
3. Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University, Equinox (Official No. 7232).

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card

Conclusion

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.

Keywords

#Equinox #LakeMichiganShipwreck #BigSablePoint #GrandTrunkRailway #GreatLakesSteamers #1875Shipwreck