Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H.G. Stamback
- Type: Wooden brig (two-masted)
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Conneaut, Ohio
- Dimensions: 82 ft (25 m) X 22 ft (6.7 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~145 gross tons
- Location: West side of North Manitou Island
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden brig, two-masted, approximately 82 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 9 feet deep, with a registered tonnage of around 145 gross tons.
Description
The H.G. Stamback was a wooden brig built in 1847 in Conneaut, Ohio. It was designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes and was approximately 82 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 9 feet deep.
History
The vessel had a brief service history, primarily operating in the Great Lakes region. Specific details regarding its ownership and cargo are not well-documented.
Significant Incidents
- On October 25, 1857, while navigating Lake Michigan, the H.G. Stamback capsized during a storm and was blown onto a reef on the west side of North Manitou Island.
- After initially grounding on the reef, the vessel later slipped off into deeper water and sank.
- Contemporary records indicate some uncertainty regarding loss of life, with mentions of “some” fatalities, but exact details remain unclear.
Final Disposition
The H.G. Stamback was a total loss after it sank following its grounding on the reef. Due to the early date of loss and its deep-water location, no modern wreck survey or dive documentation exists.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the H.G. Stamback has not been identified in modern surveys, and its current condition remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-g-stamback-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research may uncover more details about the H.G. Stamback, including potential casualties and its operational history. Scanning period newspapers and local records could provide additional insights.
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.
(built 1847; lost October 25, 1857)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H.G. Stamback (sometimes listed in error as H.G. Stambach)
- Year Built: 1847, Conneaut, Ohio
- Vessel Type: Wooden brig (two-masted), around 82 × 22 × 9 ft, ~145 gross tons
- Loss Date: October 25, 1857
- Loss Location: West side of North Manitou Island (also sometimes listed as South Manitou), Lake Michigan
- Carrying: Not recorded—cargo is unknown
Circumstances of Loss
- While upbound on Lake Michigan, H.G. Stamback capsized and was blown onto a reef on the west side of Manitou Island during a storm.
- She came to rest stranded on the reef but later slipped off into deep water, where she sank.
- Contemporary records mention some uncertainty around loss of life, indicating “some” fatalities may have occurred—but details are not conclusive.
Final Disposition
- The vessel had stranded intact, then eventually sank after slipping off the reef. She was a total loss.
- Due to the deep-water location and early date of loss, no modern wreck survey or dive documentation exists.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | H.G. Stamback |
| Built | 1847, Conneaut, Ohio |
| Vessel Type | Wooden two-masted brig (approx. 82 × 22 × 9 ft; ~145 gt) |
| Loss Date | October 25, 1857 |
| Loss Location | West side, North Manitou Island, Lake Michigan |
| Cause of Loss | Capsized in storm; blown onto reef; later sank |
| Casualties | Some died—exact number unknown |
| Wreck Located | Not identified in modern surveys |
Research Notes & Observations
- Summary data confirms the vessel capsized in a storm, grounded, then sank after dislodging from the reef.
- Details on casualties remain ambiguous; some records suggest there were fatalities but provide no specifics.
- Registry number, owner name, cargo, and captain identity are not recorded in searchable indexes.
For more complete documentation, potential next steps include scanning period newspapers (e.g., 1857 issues from Chicago, Manitowoc, or Leland—near Manitou Island), local probate or casualty records, and U.S. registry books for vessel specifications.
Let me know if you’d like help exploring those archives or region-specific reports for further detail.
h-g-stamback-1857 1857-10-25 22:08:00