Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Evaline Bates
- Type: Wooden packet or small freighter
- Year Built: 1859
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Grand Island, near Munising, Michigan
- Official Number: Not found in surviving records
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Evaline Bates is categorized as a wooden packet or small freighter, likely utilized in the timber or general cargo trade.
Description
Built around 1859, Evaline Bates was a wooden vessel that served commercial purposes on the Great Lakes. The ship was noted for its vintage wooden hull, which was characteristic of the era.
History
The vessel’s last voyage ended on 1 September 1891 when it was caught in a fall storm. It was driven ashore at Grand Island, where it suffered extensive flooding and structural stress. The ship struck bottom and filled with water, leading to its abandonment due to its deteriorated condition.
Significant Incidents
- 1 September 1891: Caught in a storm, Evaline Bates was driven ashore at Grand Island, resulting in flooding and structural damage.
Final Disposition
Evaline Bates was declared a constructive total loss and was abandoned in situ. The wreck was not salvaged due to its age and perceived lack of value.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, there are no known rediscoveries of the wreck of Evaline Bates, and its current condition remains undocumented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”evaline-bates-1859″ title=”References & Links”]
Evaline Bates was a small wooden commercial vessel lost on 1 September 1891 off Grand Island, Michigan, during a storm. The vessel was abandoned after flooding, with no casualties reported. Further archival research is needed to uncover details about its registry, ownership, and crew.
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.
built ca. 1859 – wrecked 1 September 1891
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Evaline Bates (occasionally recorded as Eveline, Eveline Bates)
- Official No.: Not found in surviving records
- Type: Wooden packet or small freighter, possibly used in timber or general cargo trade
- Build Year: 1859 (cited as vintage wooden hull age at wreck)
- Last Voyage & Loss Date: 1 September 1891
- Loss Location: Grand Island, near Munising, Michigan, on Lake Superior
Final Voyage & Cause of Loss
- Caught in a fall storm on 1 September 1891, she was driven ashore at Grand Island, where the hull suffered extensive flooding and structural stress.
- She struck bottom and filled with water, and due to her deteriorated condition, was considered too aged or valueless to salvage
- Declared a constructive total loss; wreck was abandoned in situ
Casualties & Disposition
- Casualties: None reported
- Outcome: Vessel stranded and destroyed by wave-driven impact and flooding; no further salvage attempted
Summary Table
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Evaline Bates |
| Built | ca. 1859 (wooden hull) |
| Loss Date | 1 September 1891 |
| Loss Location | Grand Island, Lake Superior |
| Cause | Storm-driven grounding; hull flooded |
| Cargo | Likely general freight or timber |
| Casualties | None |
| Final Status | Wrecked and abandoned |
| Modern Rediscovery | None known |
Research Notes & Gaps
- Registry details (builder, enrollment number, owner, master) not preserved in accessible secondary sources
- The variant spelling (Eveline) may contribute to archival gaps
- Potential overlap with a similarly named vessel (Eveline Bates) reported lost on Lake Superior in local records around 1891, suggesting shared origin or misreporting
Archival Research Recommendations
- Local Newspaper Archives (Sept 1891)
Munising News, Marquette Mercury, Escanaba Daily Press may include incident reports, rescue accounts, or crew names - Bowling Green HCGL Accident Registers (1891 Loss Section)
May list Evaline Bates under Ontario or U.S. losses; could include official vessel number - Underwriting Logs / Insurance Ledgers
Archives in Cleveland or Marquette underwriting firms could document valuation, loss narrative, or owner data - Great Lakes Shipwreck Files Cross-Reference
Though the website’s alphabetical listing entry is sparse under “B,” in other letter indices (e.g. “E”) further mentions may exist
Conclusion
Evaline Bates was a small wooden commercial vessel built around 1859, lost on 1 September 1891 off Grand Island, Michigan, when she was driven ashore during a storm and flooded. The vessel was not worth salvaging and was abandoned. No casualties were recorded. Archival information (registry details, ownership, crew identity) remains incomplete, requiring targeted newspaper, insurance, and accident register research to uncover.
evaline-bates-1859 1891-09-01 16:16:00