Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Game
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Unknown, likely in Michigan or Illinois
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Driven ashore onto breakwater (likely near Chicago)
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Based out of Chicago
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner engaged in freight service.
Description
Game was built circa 1871 and registered out of Chicago. The vessel was primarily used for trade routes across Lake Huron.
History
The schooner was engaged in freight service, operating out of Chicago and navigating the waters of Lake Huron.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: September 24, 1871
- Incident: Caught in a sudden late-season storm, she was driven ashore onto a breakwater, likely at Chicago or nearby Lake Michigan harbor entrance.
- The vessel was wrecked completely, breaking apart after grounding.
- Casualties: Not recorded; none mentioned explicitly.
Final Disposition
The hull broke apart after grounding and was declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and accessibility details are not available.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”game-1871″ title=”References & Links”]
Game, a wooden freight schooner registered in Chicago, was wrecked by a storm on September 24, 1871, after being driven ashore onto a breakwater while inbound. She was declared a total loss with no recorded fatalities. The surviving record is sparse, urging deeper archival investigation through local newspapers, port authority logs, or insurance documentation.
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 1871; lost September 24, 1871, Wooden cargo schooner, Lake Huron trade
Vessel Overview
- Built: circa 1871, likely in a Michigan or Illinois shipyard; registered out of Chicago.
- Type: Two‑masted wooden schooner engaged in freight service.
- Owner: Based out of Chicago, plying trade routes across Lake Huron.
Final Voyage & Loss — September 24, 1871
- Route: Inbound toward Chicago from Lake Huron ports.
- Incident: Caught in a sudden late-season storm, she was driven ashore onto a breakwater—likely at Chicago or nearby Lake Michigan harbor entrance.
- The vessel was wrecked completely, breaking apart after grounding.
- Casualties: Not recorded. The entry notes none mentioned explicitly.
(michiganshipwrecks.org, en.wikipedia.org)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Game |
| Build & Registry | Built 1871; registered out of Chicago |
| Type | Wooden freight schooner |
| Loss Date | September 24, 1871 |
| Loss Location | Driven ashore onto breakwater (likely near Chicago) |
| Cause of Loss | Storm; wrecked on breakwater |
| Crew Casualties | None reported |
| Final Status | Hull broke apart; declared a total loss |
Interpretation & Context
- The ship likely attempted to seek harbor during a severe storm—perhaps at the mouth of the Chicago River or a nearby pier—and was driven onto a breakwater structure.
- September hurricanes and early fall gales on Lake Michigan often reached force waves capable of wrecking vessels along exposed harbor infrastructure.
- Unfortunately, no further operational details, such as cargo, crew count, ownership beyond port, or rescue efforts, are recorded in current summary entries.
Research Recommendations
To deepen the historical profile of Game, consider consulting:
- Chicago newspapers, late September 1871 (e.g., Chicago Tribune, Evening Journal): likely to carry dramatic wreck notices and crew details.
- Harbor logs or Port of Chicago authority records: may record incoming schooner arrivals or wreck incidents around that date.
- Insurance or underwriter archives: would capture cargo manifests, loss claims, and ownership records.
- Registry and enrollment ledgers for 1871 Chicago-built or registered schooners named Game.
Conclusion
Game, a wooden freight schooner registered in Chicago, was wrecked by a storm on September 24, 1871, after being driven ashore onto a breakwater while inbound. She was declared a total loss with no recorded fatalities. The surviving record is sparse, urging deeper archival investigation through local newspapers, port authority logs, or insurance documentation.
Please let me know if you’d like help accessing digitized newspapers, harbor records, or registry filings to reconstruct Game‘s background more fully.
game-1871 1871-09-24 12:14:00