Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Guide
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: Uncertain—possibly built in 1856 or 1862
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Around 84 gross tons (if 1862 vessel)
- Location: Unknown—common listing as Lake Michigan or Lake Huron
- Number of Masts: Single or two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner, single-deck, single or two-masted.
Description
The Guide was a wooden schooner that likely carried regional freight such as lumber, coal, and grain. The exact details of its cargo, route, or cause of sinking remain undocumented.
History
Available records indicate that the Guide was lost on the Great Lakes in 1871, with no survivors. The vessel’s construction year is uncertain, with sources suggesting either 1856 or 1862. The loss of the entire crew underscores the dangers of 19th-century lake navigation.
Significant Incidents
- Entire crew lost—no survivors or wreck identified.
- Disappeared without trace in 1871, with multiple histories confirming the loss.
Final Disposition
The Guide was lost at sea, with no wreck site or survivors documented. It is presumed fully submerged and unrecoverable.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site remains undiscovered, with no surveys conducted. The condition is presumed to be fully submerged.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”guide-c1856″ title=”References & Links”]
The Guide schooner represents one of many unaccounted-for maritime tragedies of the Great Lakes era, vanished with all aboard without surviving documentation. As such, she remains a historical phantom, likely resting in deep, uncharted waters.
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.
Identification & Vessel Overview
- Name: Guide
- Year of Build: Uncertain—possibly built in 1856 or 1862
- Type: Wooden schooner, single-deck, single or two-masted
- Tonnage: Around 84 gross tons (if 1862 vessel); later Build date suggests similar size
- Final Disposition: Lost with all hands at sea
- Date of Loss: 1871 (exact date unconfirmed)
- Casualty Report: Entire crew lost—no survivors or wreck identified
Incident Summary
Available records are vague but consistent in stating that a schooner named Guide was lost on the Great Lakes in 1871, and that no crew survived. Multiple vessel histories list a Guide built in either 1856 or 1862 that disappeared without trace in that year. No wreck site, survivors, or grounded reports have been documented in archival sources.
Wreck Site & Condition
- Location: Unknown—common listing as Lake Michigan or Lake Huron
- Condition: Presumed fully submerged and unrecoverable
- Wreck Survey: None; site remains undiscovered
Historical Significance
- Like many Great Lakes schooners, Guide likely carried regional freight (e.g., lumber, coal, grain); details on cargo, route, or cause of sinking remain undocumented
- The total-loss nature—crew disappeared without record—underscores the dangers of 19th-century lake navigation and the frequency of disappearances in storms or sudden squalls
- Lack of survivor testimony means there’s no first-hand account of the incident
Key Details
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Region | Great Lakes (Lake Michigan/Huron) |
| Vessel Type | Wooden schooner |
| Cause of Loss | Likely foundering—no explanation |
| Casualties | 100% of crew lost |
| Era | 1856–1871 (build year uncertain) |
| Wreck Status | Unlocated, unverified |
Research Opportunities
- Newspaper Archives: Broad search in 1871 publications (e.g., Detroit Free Press, Milwaukee Sentinel) may yield crew lists or brief incident notices
- Marine Records: U.S. Life-Saving Service or Canadian Marine records might contain official loss entries
- Harbor Logs: Enrollment or registry repo—Port Huron or Chicago—could include final voyage or removal notes
Conclusion:
The Guide schooner represents one of many unaccounted-for maritime tragedies of the Great Lakes era—vanished with all aboard without surviving documentation. As such, she remains a historical phantom, likely resting in deep, uncharted waters.