Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: G. Ellen
- Type: Two-masted wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: Hicks, Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: Approximately 95 × 17 × 7 ft (29.0 × 5.2 × 2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~96 tons
- Location: Off Milwaukee, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A sturdy scow-schooner built for near-shore hauling of wood, stone, and bulk cargoes typical of mid-19th-century Great Lakes traffic.
Description
Constructed in 1854, G. Ellen was valued and rated A2, indicating solid build quality. Her scow hull and two-mast rig made her useful for carrying timber between ports, where she weathered many seasons before her final voyage.
History
She served the lumber trade for decades. In her final voyage, she battled a violent storm that persisted for two days. As conditions deteriorated on 16 September 1901, the vessel began breaking apart under continuous wave impact.
Significant Incidents
The schooner began to break up during the raging storm; crew members lashed themselves to the cabin roof to remain aboard safely. The crew was rescued in a dramatic action by the steamer Nyack, which maneuvered to air the G. Ellen and bring the crew aboard. The ship foundered and was lost at sea shortly thereafter; no structural remains have been documented.
Final Disposition
No known discovery or dive documentation. The wreck has not been located or surveyed, and its precise location remains unknown.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) or official advisories were issued. Mariners should be aware that wreckage may lie in the storm-action zone off Milwaukee at the time of loss, but no hazards are currently marked.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”g-ellen-1854″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The G. Ellen, built in 1854 at Detroit and repurposed for decades hauling wood, met her end on 16 September 1901 during a forceful Lake Michigan storm. After a harrowing two-day fight with the elements, the crew—four in number—took shelter atop the cabin and were rescued by the steamer Nyack. The ship broke apart and sank in deep water, leaving no survivors lodged aboard and no site located. Her story highlights the enduring hazards of Great Lakes storms and the bravery of commercial merchant crews of the era.
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
- Vessel Name: G. Ellen
- Other Names: None
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Type: Two-masted wooden scow‑schooner
- Build Year: 1854, constructed by Hicks in Detroit, Michigan (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Dimensions: Approximately 95 × 17 × 7 ft (29.0 × 5.2 × 2.1 m); ~96 tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo at Loss: Wood (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: 16 September 1901
- Location of Loss: Off Milwaukee, Lake Michigan (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Crew: 4 aboard; all survived (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
VESSEL TYPE
A sturdy scow‑schooner built for near‑shore hauling of wood, stone, and bulk cargoes typical of mid‑19th-century Great Lakes traffic.
DESCRIPTION
Constructed in 1854, G. Ellen was valued and rated A2, indicating solid build quality. Her scow hull and two‑mast rig made her useful for carrying timber between ports, where she weathered many seasons before her final voyage.
HISTORY
She served the lumber trade for decades. In her final voyage, she battled a violent storm that persisted for two days. As conditions deteriorated on 16 September 1901, the vessel began breaking apart under continuous wave impact (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
INCIDENT & FINAL DISPOSITION
The schooner began to break up during the raging storm; crew members lashed themselves to the cabin roof to remain aboard safely. The crew was rescued in a dramatic action by the steamer Nyack, which maneuvered to air the G. Ellen and bring the crew aboard (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com). The ship foundered and was lost at sea shortly thereafter; no structural remains have been documented.
LOCATED BY & DATE FOUND
No known discovery or dive documentation. The wreck has not been located or surveyed, and its precise location remains unknown.
NOTICES TO MARINERS & ADVISORIES
No Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) or official advisories were issued. Mariners should be aware that wreckage may lie in the storm‑action zone off Milwaukee at time of loss, but no hazards are currently marked.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- WisconsinShipwrecks.org: Detailed vessel specs and incident narrative (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: Summarized loss data, confirmed date of loss and crew outcome (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The G. Ellen, built in 1854 at Detroit and repurposed for decades hauling wood, met her end on 16 September 1901 during a forceful Lake Michigan storm. After a harrowing two‑day fight with the elements, the crew—four in number—took shelter atop the cabin and were rescued by the steamer Nyack. The ship broke apart and sank in deep water, leaving no survivors lodged aboard and no site located. Her story highlights the enduring hazards of Great Lakes storms and the bravery of commercial merchant crews of the era.
Keywords & Glossary:
G. Ellen; scow‑schooner; Lake Michigan storm; crew rescue; Nyack; 1901 wreck; Milwaukee maritime history.