Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

J.F. Tracy US 12774

Explore the wreck of the J.F. Tracy, a 2-mast wooden schooner lost in 1886 near Beaver Island, Lake Michigan. A dive into maritime history awaits.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J.F. Tracy
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1855
  • Builder: F.N. Jones, Buffalo, NY
  • Dimensions: 102 x 24 ft (31 x 7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 139 gross tons, 132 net tons
  • Location: West side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 12774
  • Original Owners: Operated out of Chicago, Illinois
  • Number of Masts: 2-mast

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The J.F. TRACY was a 2-mast wooden schooner, a common vessel type used for trade and transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.

Description

The J.F. TRACY was built in 1855 and measured 102 feet (31 meters) in length, with a beam of 24 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 meters). It had a gross tonnage of 139 tons. The vessel was known for its challenging handling and was deemed unseaworthy by the time of its loss.

History

The J.F. TRACY was constructed by F.N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. Throughout its service, the schooner faced numerous difficulties, including a notorious incident in 1866 when it took 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio due to stormy conditions.

Significant Incidents

  • 1866: Took 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio, in stormy weather.

Final Disposition

On September 4, 1886, the J.F. TRACY went aground on the west side of Beaver Island during a storm, resulting in the vessel being wrecked and considered a total loss. Due to its already poor condition, it was abandoned as unseaworthy, and no lives were lost in this incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is not detailed, but it remains a site of interest for divers and historians alike.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-f-tracy-us-12774″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The J.F. TRACY is a significant part of Lake Michigan’s maritime history, illustrating the challenges faced by 19th-century shipping. Its wreck near Beaver Island adds to the mystique of the lake’s many shipwrecks.

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.

J.F. TRACY Identification & Site Information

  • Other Names: None (also seen as J.P. TRACY)
  • Official No.: 12774
  • Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast
  • Build Info: 1855, F.N. Jones, Buffalo, NY
  • Specs: 102x24x8 ft, 139 gross tons, 132 net tons
  • Date of Loss: 1886, September 4
  • Place of Loss: West side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan

History and Description

The J.F. TRACY was a 2-mast wooden schooner built in 1855 by F.N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. The ship was 102 feet (31 meters) long, with a beam of 24 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 meters), and had a gross tonnage of 139 tons. In her early years, the J.F. TRACY had a reputation for being difficult to handle and was considered unseaworthy by the time of her loss. In fact, she was un-insurable due to her condition, and her history was marked by struggles in heavy weather. In 1866, the TRACY became notorious for taking 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio in stormy conditions, leading some to believe she had been lost during that voyage.

Final Disposition

On September 4, 1886, the J.F. TRACY went aground just offshore on the west side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, during a storm. The schooner became wrecked and was considered a total loss. Due to her already precarious condition, she was abandoned as unseaworthy and was not salvaged. Despite her difficulties, no lives were lost in this final incident.

Master and Ownership

The J.F. TRACY operated out of Chicago, Illinois, during her final years. She had experienced several issues over her lifetime, leading to her eventual abandonment.

Sources & References

  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Offers details on the schooner’s struggles and ultimate wrecking
  • Great Lakes Ships
  • Wikipedia
  • David Swayze Shipwreck File
  • Bowling Green State University
  • Great Lakes Historical Society: Maintains records of the J.F. TRACY and similar vessels.
  • Shipwreck Data: Lists wrecks and other incidents involving 19th-century schooners like the TRACY.

Conclusion

The J.F. TRACY, though a significant part of Lake Michigan’s maritime history, was marked by misfortune, with her final fate coming in 1886. Her unseaworthiness and un-insurability before her loss highlight the challenges of 19th-century shipping on the Great Lakes, and her wreck near Beaver Island adds to the mystique of the lake’s many shipwrecks.

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