Shotline Diving

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Golden West (Jne E. Harrison) US 10199

Explore the wreck of the Golden West, a wooden barkentine with a storied history of collisions and a final tragic grounding in Georgian Bay.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Golden West (originally JNE E. Harrison)
  • Type: Wooden barkentine (three-masted sailing vessel)
  • Year Built: 1861
  • Builder: Benjamin B. Jones, Milwaukee, WI
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 616
  • Location: Shoreline near Snake Island, Georgian Bay
  • Official Number: 10199
  • Original Owners: Harrison & Chapin, Milwaukee, WI
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden barkentine (three-masted sailing vessel)

Description

The Golden West was a wooden barkentine, notable for its three masts and a significant cargo capacity of approximately 28,000 bushels. Originally built in 1861, it underwent various repairs and modifications throughout its service life, including a wire rigging addition in 1881.

History

Launched in 1861, the Golden West was the second-largest vessel constructed at its yard. It had a tumultuous service history marked by numerous collisions and repairs. Significant incidents include a collision with the schooner Yankee in 1862, and various mishaps from 1866 to 1884, culminating in its final voyage where it ran aground during a severe gale.

Significant Incidents

  • 1862: Collided with the schooner Yankee in the St. Clair River.
  • 1866: Collisions with schooner Hornet (Lake Michigan) and bark Badger State (Buffalo).
  • 1869: Lost sails and sprung a leak on Lake Huron; later grounded near Presque Isle.
  • 1872–1874: Various collisions and harbor damages, including incidents in Buffalo and Lake Michigan.
  • 1879: Underwent extensive repairs in Buffalo; wired rigging re-rigging in 1881.
  • 1881: Sunk at Escanaba, MI in June; raised and towed for repair.
  • 1883: Ran aground at Manitou Islands while loaded with corn; rescued by steamer Champlain and repaired.

Final Disposition

The Golden West was abandoned on 7 November 1884 after suffering severe hull damage when it ran ashore near Snake Island in Georgian Bay during a blizzard. The vessel was declared a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No underwater debris field or dive site is documented; it is likely that breakup occurred near shallow shore. The vessel was left in situ following abandonment.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”golden-west-jne-e-harrison-us-10199″ title=”References & Links”]

The Golden West serves as a historical example of the challenges faced by 19th-century shipping vessels on the Great Lakes, illustrating both the resilience and vulnerabilities of maritime operations in the region.

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: Golden West (originally JNE E. Harrison)
  • Official Number: 10 199
  • Built: Laid down March 1861, Milwaukee, WI by Benjamin B. Jones; launched 8 April 1861
  • Type: Wooden barkentine (three-masted sailing vessel)
  • Decks: 1
  • Original Owner: Harrison & Chapin, Milwaukee, WI
  • Tonnage (old style): 616
  • Capacity: ~28,000 bushels
  • Propulsion & Structure
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Rig: Three-masted barkentine with wire rigging added in 1881

History & Chronology

  • 1861: Launched under the name Golden West, the second-largest vessel built at the yard on the Menominee River
  • Massive Repairs & Incidents:
    • 1862: Collided with the schooner Yankee in the St. Clair River
    • 1866: Collisions with schooner Hornet (Lake Michigan) and bark Badger State (Buffalo)
    • 1869: Lost sails and sprung a leak on Lake Huron; later grounded near Presque Isle
    • 1872–1874: Various collisions and harbor damages, including Buffalo and Lake Michigan incidents
    • 1879: Underwent extensive repairs in Buffalo; wired rigged re-rigging in 1881
    • 1881: Sunk at Escanaba, MI in June; raised and towed for repair
    • 1883: Ran aground at Manitou Islands while loaded with corn—rescued by steamer Champlain and repaired
  • 1884 Final Voyage:
    • 21 October: Bound Chicago → Midland, Ontario with a cargo of corn in a blizzard/gale
    • Ran ashore near Snake Island in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, suffering severe hull damage
    • 7 November: Officially abandoned and declared a total loss

Final Disposition

  • Location: Shoreline near Snake Island, Georgian Bay
  • Cargo at Loss: Corn
  • Cause: Grounded in severe gale and blizzard conditions; hull irreparably damaged
  • Outcome: Abandoned and written off

Wreck Site & Condition

  • No underwater debris field or dive site is documented; likely breakup occurred near shallow shore. The vessel was left in situ following abandonment.

Significance

  • The Golden West exemplified large cargo schooners of her era—built for high-capacity freight and endued with a rugged repair history. Her 1884 loss marks the culmination of a long maritime career marked by frequent mishaps and heavy use, underscoring both her resilience and susceptibility to Lake Huron’s volatile weather.

Resources & Next Steps

  • Consult newspapers from October–November 1884 in Georgian Bay and Milwaukee archives for eyewitness accounts or salvage reports
  • Investigate Georgian Bay historical societies or shipping registries for exact wreck location or imagery
  • Steam-boiler and hull plans may exist in Milwaukee historical archives

Keywords & Categories

Barkentine • Freight schooner • Corn cargo • Multiple collisions • Wire-rig conversion • Snake Island wreck • Georgian Bay maritime history • 19th-century shipping losses

golden-west-jne-e-harrison-us-10199 1884-10-21 14:04:00