Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Espindola
- Type: Wooden-hulled, single-deck schooner
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: P. Lawson
- Dimensions: Approx. 60 ft × 19 ft × 6 ft (18.3 m × 5.8 m × 1.8 m); gross tonnage ~54 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~54 ft
- Location: About 1 mile north of the Chicago waterfront
- Official Number: 8792
- Original Owners: Henry Peddendruck of Milwaukee
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small, single-masted schooner typical of the mid-19th century, often used in the timber trade for hauling rail ties and other lumber products across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Espindola had a shallow-draft wooden hull, a single deck, and one mast. She was rigged for sail, with ample capacity for lumber. On her last voyage, she was overloaded with ice in addition to cargo, which compromised her stability.
History
Built in Manitowoc in 1869, she was later owned by Henry Peddendruck of Milwaukee and skippered by him on her final voyage. Espindola sailed from Grand Haven, Michigan, bound for South Chicago with a cargo of railroad ties.
On 10 April 1882, after battling a gale the entire crossing, she struck bottom off 18th Street, Chicago. The ice-laden deck contributed to her capsizing. The tug George B. McClellan came to her aid, rescuing three men and a boy aboard. Shortly thereafter, the schooner drifted southward and broke apart.
Significant Incidents
- 10 April 1882: Espindola capsized after striking bottom off 18th Street, Chicago, during a gale.
- The vessel was overloaded with ice and cargo, contributing to her instability.
- The tug George B. McClellan rescued three men and a boy from the capsized vessel.
Final Disposition
After capsizing and drifting, the vessel disintegrated in open water. No part of the hull remained intact, and the wreckage was entirely lost to the lake.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There have been no archaeological surveys or modern rediscoveries of Espindola’s remains. Given the dynamic shoreline and heavy break-up, any remnants are unlikely to be intact or accessible for diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”espindola-us-8792″ title=”References & Links”]
The Espindola case highlights the compounded dangers of ice accumulation and springtime storms on small lake schooners. Launched in 1869, her career ended when overloaded with cargo and ice, capsizing near Chicago. Her crew survived—a testament to effective rescue operations—but the vessel was shattered, leaving no known remains for maritime archaeology.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Espindola (sometimes recorded as Espinola)
- Official number: 8792
- Year built: 1869 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin by P. Lawson
- Type: Wooden-hulled, single-deck schooner
- Dimensions: Approx. 60 ft × 19 ft × 6 ft (18.3 m × 5.8 m × 1.8 m); gross tonnage ~54 t
- Date lost: 10 April 1882
- Location: About 1 mile north of the Chicago waterfront, Lake Michigan
- Cargo: Railroad ties (with heavy ice accumulation)
- Casualties: None
Vessel Type
A small, single-masted schooner typical of the mid-19th century, often used in the timber trade for hauling rail ties and other lumber products across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Espindola had a shallow-draft wooden hull, a single deck, and one mast. She was rigged for sail, with ample capacity for lumber. On her last voyage, she was overloaded with ice in addition to cargo, which compromised her stability.
History & Final Voyage
Built in Manitowoc in 1869, she was later owned by Henry Peddendruck of Milwaukee and skippered by him on her final voyage. Espindola sailed from Grand Haven, Michigan, bound for South Chicago with a cargo of railroad ties.
On 10 April 1882, after battling a gale the entire crossing, she struck bottom off 18th Street, Chicago. The ice-laden deck contributed to her capsizing. The tug George B. McClellan came to her aid, rescuing three men and a boy aboard. Shortly thereafter, the schooner drifted southward and broke apart (2manitowoc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, 2manitowoc.com).
Final Disposition
After capsizing and drifting, the vessel disintegrated in open water. No part of the hull remained intact, and the wreckage was entirely lost to the lake.
Located By & Date Found
There have been no archaeological surveys or modern rediscoveries of Espindola’s remains. Given the dynamic shoreline and heavy break-up, any remnants are unlikely to be intact or accessible for diving.
Notmar & Advisories
No current Notmar warnings are issued specifically for Espindola. However, the 18th Street shoal off Chicago remains a navigational hazard, especially during spring gales and ice conditions.
Resources & Links
- Ships and Shipwrecks of Manitowoc County – Notes on capsizing, rescue by tug George B. McClellan, and the loss (2manitowoc.com)
- Ships and Shipwrecks of Manitowoc County – Additional details confirming break-up north of Chicago waterfront
Conclusion
The Espindola case highlights the compounded dangers of ice accumulation and springtime storms on small lake schooners. Launched in 1869, her career ended when overloaded with cargo and ice, capsizing near Chicago. Her crew survived—a testament to effective rescue operations—but the vessel was shattered, leaving no known remains for maritime archaeology.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: schooner, capsized, ice-laden deck, railroad ties, Chicago April 1882
- Categories: Wooden schooners, spring storms, Lake Michigan mishaps
- Glossary:
- Capsize: When a vessel rolls over onto its side or upside down, often due to imbalance or external forces.
- Ice-loading: Accumulation of ice on vessel surfaces, which can destabilize and sink small crafts.
- Shoal: A submerged sandbar or shallow area that poses navigational dangers.