Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Grey Eagle
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Bidwell, Banta & Co.
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 287 tons
- Location: Ashore on the north point of Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan—south of Jacksonport, Door County, Wisconsin
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two-masted wooden schooner built by Bidwell, Banta & Co. in Buffalo, New York (hmdb.org).
Description
Two-masted wooden schooner of about 287 tons, typical mid-19th-century cargo vessel on the Great Lakes, designed to carry lumber or bulk freight.
History
Originally built in Buffalo in 1857, the Grey Eagle was active in regional trade. The vessel suffered multiple collisions before her loss:
- 1858: Collision with schooner Sylph (hmdb.org, doorcountypulse.com)
- 1859: Struck by Barbarian
- 1864: Collided with and sank schooner Perseverance—the Grey Eagle assisted rescue
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the schooner Sylph in 1858.
- Struck by the Barbarian in 1859.
- Collided with and sank the Perseverance in 1864, assisting in the rescue.
Final Disposition
On July 10, 1869, during a severe southwest gale, the Grey Eagle, sailing in ballast, was driven ashore at Whitefish Bay near Jacksonport, Wisconsin. The storm smashed the vessel, declaring her a total loss as she broke apart. The crew was rescued by the schooner Yankee Trader, which also salvaged some items (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
Current Condition & Accessibility
No record of wreck location discovery as a dive site. The wreck rested ashore and disintegrated; no underwater location or remains identified in modern surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”grey-eagle-1867″ title=”References & Links”]
The Grey Eagle exemplifies mid-19th-century schooners active in lumber and bulk freight trades on Lakes Michigan and Superior. Its repeated collisions demonstrate the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation. The final wreck onshore underscores the dangers of late-season gales, particularly in July. As no remnants remain underwater, the Grey Eagle holds interest primarily as a case study of maritime disaster and navigational hazards rather than as a dive site.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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