Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Hattie B. Pereue
- Type: Schooner (wooden)
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Holland, Michigan
- Original Owners: Not specifically recorded
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Hattie B. Pereue was a traditional three-masted wooden schooner, built for general Great Lakes cargo work. These vessels typically carried grain, lumber, or coal, depending on market needs, with an economical sail rig and moderate draft suited to Great Lakes harbours.
Description
Launched in 1881, the Hattie B. Pereue worked the grain and lumber trade, frequently calling at Chicago and other Lake Michigan ports. Schooners of this class were known for their sturdy build but were increasingly vulnerable to storms and to competition from newer steam freighters by the early 1900s.
History
On 15 October 1902, while bound for Chicago, the schooner encountered a severe autumn gale on Lake Michigan. Unable to make headway against the storm, she attempted to run for shelter at Holland, Michigan. Before reaching port, she began to founder, likely due to flooding or hull strain from heavy seas.
Significant Incidents
- The schooner ultimately foundered and was lost offshore near Holland, Michigan.
- Reports indicate the crew abandoned ship safely, and there were no fatalities recorded.
- No salvage records have been found, and the vessel was considered a total loss.
Final Disposition
There is no confirmed diver discovery or survey record of the wreck’s exact position; its remains have not been formally located.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Given the schooner’s foundering and over a century underwater, any remains are likely deeply buried in sand or broken apart by wave action offshore of Holland. No known dive site is actively documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”hattie-b-pereue-1881″ title=”References & Links”]
The Hattie B. Pereue represents one of many late-era schooners overwhelmed by Lake Michigan’s powerful storms. Though her crew survived, her loss marks the decline of sail-powered freight carriers in the face of unpredictable weather and advancing steam technology.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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