Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Great West
- Type: Barkentine / Schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: George Goble
- Dimensions: 142 ft (43.3 m) X 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 278 (later recorded as 360 gross tons)
- Location: Chicago River, near downtown Chicago
- Official Number: 10198
- Original Owners: H. C. Wright, Lindgreen, Gillett & King, Christian & Co.
- Number of Masts: Square-rigged foremast
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Great West was a barkentine, a type of sailing vessel with a specific rigging style, which was later rerigged as a schooner around 1874.
Description
The Great West was a large, wooden, single-deck Great Lakes barkentine initially built for grain and general cargo trade. Her construction utilized standard mid-19th century methods with full timber hull framing and a square-rigged foremast. She operated extensively across Lakes Ontario, Erie, Michigan, and Huron for nearly 25 years before being abandoned and scuttled in Chicago.
History
The operational history of the Great West includes several significant events:
- 1854: Launched April 23 and enrolled at Oswego, NY.
- 1857 (Nov): Collided with schooner Lochiel in the Detroit River; stranded at Sleeping Bear Bay with 17,000 bushels of wheat.
- 1858: Raised and returned to service.
- 1859 (Jun): Owned by Northwestern Insurance Co., Oswego.
- 1859 (Oct): Sprang a leak while coal-laden on Lake Erie.
- 1861 (Jul 31): In collision with steamer City of Buffalo.
- 1862 (Aug): Damaged in collision with bark Sunrise.
- 1863: Sold to Lindgreen, Chicago; underwent extensive repairs.
- 1863 (Apr): Aground on St. Clair Flats.
- 1871: Ownership transferred to Gillett & King, Chicago.
- 1874 (Sep 13): Operated in lumber trade out of Green Bay under Christian & Co., Chicago; rerigged as a schooner.
- 1876: Sunk at Chicago.
- 1877: Raised and repaired.
- 1877 (Nov 9): Aground in Chicago with lumber cargo; raised again.
- 1878 (Sep): Stripped and scuttled near Clark Street Bridge, Chicago.
Significant Incidents
- Collisions with other vessels, including the Lochiel and City of Buffalo.
- Multiple groundings, including on St. Clair Flats and in Chicago.
- Significant repairs and alterations throughout her service life.
Final Disposition
The final disposition of the Great West occurred in September 1878 when it was deliberately scuttled after being stripped of all value. The hull was intact enough to be towed but deemed unfit for continued use. It was submerged as part of a controlled scuttling and likely broken up soon after.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is uncertain, as it was likely destroyed or significantly altered after scuttling. Any remaining artifacts or structural elements may be buried under sediment or lost to time.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”great-west-us-10198″ title=”References & Links”]
The Great West serves as a notable example of early Oswego-built lake cargo vessels during the height of grain shipping, reflecting the lifecycle of Great Lakes working vessels from commercial operation to dereliction and scuttling.
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.
Barkentine / Schooner Great West (Official No. 10198)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Great West
- Rig: Barkentine, rerigged as a schooner c.1874
- Official Number: 10198
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: George Goble
- Master Carpenter: James A. Baker
- Build Location: Oswego, New York
- Original Owner: H. C. Wright, Oswego, NY
- Dimensions:
- Length: 142 ft (43.3 m)
- Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m)
- Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 278 (later recorded as 360 gross tons)
- Cargo Capacity: 16,000 bushels
Description
The Great West was a large, wooden, single-deck Great Lakes barkentine initially built for grain and general cargo trade. Her construction utilized standard mid-19th century methods with full timber hull framing and a square-rigged foremast. She operated extensively across Lakes Ontario, Erie, Michigan, and Huron for nearly 25 years before being abandoned and scuttled in Chicago.
Operational History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1854 | Launched April 23 and enrolled at Oswego, NY. |
| 1857 (Nov) | Collided with schooner Lochiel in the Detroit River; stranded at Sleeping Bear Bay with 17,000 bushels of wheat. |
| 1858 | Raised and returned to service. |
| 1859 (Jun) | Owned by Northwestern Insurance Co., Oswego. |
| 1859 (Oct) | Sprang a leak while coal-laden on Lake Erie. |
| 1861 (Jul 31) | In collision with steamer City of Buffalo. |
| 1862 (Aug) | Damaged in collision with bark Sunrise. |
| 1863 | Sold to Lindgreen, Chicago; underwent extensive repairs. |
| 1863 (Apr) | Aground on St. Clair Flats. |
| 1871 | Ownership transferred to Gillett & King, Chicago. |
| 1874 (Sep 13) | Operated in lumber trade out of Green Bay under Christian & Co., Chicago; rerigged as a schooner. |
| 1876 | Sunk at Chicago. |
| 1877 | Raised and repaired. |
| 1877 (Nov 9) | Aground in Chicago with lumber cargo; raised again. |
| 1878 (Sep) | Stripped and scuttled near Clark Street Bridge, Chicago. |
Final Disposition
- Date of Final Disposal: September 1878
- Location: Chicago River / Lake Michigan, near downtown Chicago
- Cause: Deliberate scuttling after being stripped of all value
- Condition: Hull was intact enough to be towed but unfit for continued use
- Final Status: Submerged as controlled scuttling—likely broken up soon after
Historical Significance
- Great West was a notable example of early Oswego-built lake cargo vessels during the height of grain shipping.
- Survived multiple strandings, collisions, and a reconfiguration to prolong service life.
- Demonstrates the lifecycle of Great Lakes working vessels: commercial decline → harbor derelict → scrapping and scuttling.
- Reflects the aggressive ship repair, raising, and repurposing practices prevalent in Chicago’s late-19th-century port system.
Research Opportunities & Recommendations
| Area | Action |
|---|---|
| Location Confirmation | Review 1878 City of Chicago scuttling contracts and port records for scow tow/removal logs. |
| Historic Photographs | Examine archives at the Chicago Maritime Museum or the Chicago History Museum for images of scuttled vessels or Clark St bridge traffic. |
| Newspaper Archives | See Chicago Inter Ocean (Sep 1878) and Chicago Tribune for tow operations, salvage auctions, or final sightings. |
| Site Survey | Though likely destroyed, diver or sonar examination of scuttling area near early Clark Street bridge debris field may reveal artifacts or framing. |
Summary Profile
- Name: Great West
- Built: 1854, Oswego, NY
- Rig: Barkentine → Schooner (1874)
- Service Life: 24 years
- Dimensions: 142 × 26 × 11 ft; 278–360 tons
- Lost: Scuttled Sep 1878, Chicago
- Cause: Abandoned, no longer seaworthy
- Significance: Represents complete life cycle of 19th-century cargo sailing vessels on the Great Lakes
Links