Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Everett
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Reef off Lake Erie (exact site unknown)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Everett was a schooner, a type of sailing vessel characterized by its fore-and-aft rigging and typically used for coastal trade.
Description
The Everett was built around 1848 and was primarily engaged in the transportation of cargo, possibly coal, at the time of her loss. The vessel was reported to have been caught in a fierce storm, leading to her grounding on a reef.
History
The Everett had a brief service history, primarily operating on Lake Erie. The exact details of her ownership and operational history remain unclear due to sparse records.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in October 1857, often cited as October 8 or early October.
- Driven onto a reef by a sudden storm while attempting to maneuver nearshore.
- All four crew members survived the incident.
Final Disposition
The Everett was declared irretrievable and abandoned after being wrecked on the reef. No salvage operations were conducted, and the wreck site remains unrecorded in modern diving or archaeological surveys.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, as it has not been located in modern surveys. The vessel was reported to have broken up on the reef, and no salvage has been attempted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”everett-1848″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Everett highlights the dangers faced by vessels on the Great Lakes, particularly during storms. Further research into insurance records and local newspaper archives may provide additional insights into her history and the circumstances surrounding her loss.
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 1848; lost October, 1857)
Identification & Site Overview
- Name: Everett (loss recorded under this name; no official Builder or Official Number listed)
- Loss Date: October 1857 (often cited as October 8 or early October)
- Cause: Driven into a reef by a sudden storm
- Cargo: Possibly coal (reported as “coal ?” indicating uncertainty)
- Loss Type: Total hull loss; estimated value of US $3,300
Loss Circumstances
- The vessel was attempting to maneuver nearshore or toward harbor on Lake Erie, when struck by a fierce storm.
- She became unsteerable and was driven directly onto a reef, where wave action battered her until she was destroyed.
- According to the surviving summary, all crew survived—”none of 4″ suggests four aboard, all rescued.
(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, nps.gov)
Wreck Status
- Location: Close inshore, but exact reef or geographic coordinates not documented
- Salvage: None—vessel was declared irretrievable and abandoned
- Wreck Site Remains: Not recorded in modern diving or archaeological surveys
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Everett |
| Year Built | ca. 1848 (inferred) |
| Last Known Cargo | Likely coal (unconfirmed) |
| Loss Date | October 1857 |
| Location | Reef off Lake Erie (exact site unknown) |
| Cause of Loss | Stranded by storm on reef |
| Crew & Fatalities | 4 aboard; no fatalities |
| Estimated Loss Value | US $3,300 |
| Wreck Condition | Broken up on reef; no salvage |
| Modern Survey Status | Not located |
Research Gaps & Recommendations
Official records for Everett are sparse. Here are steps to expand the profile:
- Underwriters’ or Insurance Ledgers (c. 1857–1858): look for vessel name Everett in coal cargo loss registers and appraisal documents.
- Regional Newspaper Archives around October 1857—especially near ports like Cleveland, Erie, or Ashtabula—where reef groundings and storm vessel losses were reported.
- Port registers or harbor logs listing Everett arrival or loss notices near Lake Erie harbor entrances.
- Crew or maritime pension records from Great Lakes Bound Crews around that date, which may include incident statements or survivor interviews.
Conclusion
The schooner Everett met her end in October 1857 during a storm on Lake Erie. Driven onto a reef, she was ultimately wrecked beyond salvage. Despite the loss, her crew survived. The limited data—cargo unknown, reef location unrecorded—suggests deeper investigation is needed via insurance records or local newspapers to fully reconstruct her story.
Let me know if you’d like help searching period newspapers or maritime registry archives to uncover more on Everett or similar losses in that era.
everett-1848 1857-10-26 09:32:00