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.
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: Grey Eagle
- Year built/Launched: 1857
- Year lost: July 10, 1869
- Location: Ashore on the north point of Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan—south of Jacksonport, Door County, Wisconsin
- Vessel measurements: approximately 287 tons (tonnage; no precise length/beam recorded)
- Cargo on final voyage: en route to pick up lumber at Green Bay; in ballast when wrecked
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
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).
Located By & Date Found
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.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. The wreck site lies on a boulder‑strewn, shallow shoreline—no ongoing marine hazard alerts.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – Grey Eagle
- Milwaukee Sentinel (19 July 1869) – detailed loss report and salvage.
- Collision history and pre-loss record in Door County Pulse.
- Modern documentation
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks and volunteer-led field surveys reflect continued historical significance.
- Historical collision record – Door County Pulse article on Grey Eagle incidents
- Historical build info – Historical Marker Database
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks notes the Grey Eagle driven ashore by a southwest gale on 10 July 1869, while sailing in ballast en route to Green Bay, and affirms the loss status and rescue operations
- Recent underwater archaeological reports reference preliminary historical investigation of the Grey Eagle by volunteers, indicating ongoing interest wisconsinshipwrecks.org.
- The Milwaukee Sentinel, dated 19 July 1869, reported that the Grey Eagle was “a total loss and going to pieces,” though the crew and some salvageable items were rescued by the schooner Yankee Trader.
- Supporting historical detail, research in the Door County Pulse confirms collisions in the vessel’s history (with Sylph, Barbarian, and Perseverance) doorcountypulse.com.
Shore Dive Information
Not applicable—wreck disintegrated on shore and no submerged site remains.
Conclusion
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.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: schooner, Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan, 1869 storm, shipwreck
- Categories: Wooden schooners, Mid‑19th century maritime trade, Great Lakes wrecks
- Glossary: schooner (two‑masted sailing vessel), ballast (weight for stability), in ballast, total loss, gale