Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James D. Sawyer
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Tonawanda, New York
- Dimensions: 183 ft × 32 ft × 13 ft; approx. 637 GRT / 605 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 637 GRT / 605 NRT
- Location: Shoreline near Seul Choix Point, Michigan
- Official Number: 75386
- Original Owners: McMorran, based in Port Huron, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification
- Name: James D. Sawyer (also registered as J. D. Sawyer)
- Official Number: 75386
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Built: 1871 at Tonawanda, New York
- Dimensions: 183 ft × 32 ft × 13 ft; approx. 637 GRT / 605 NRT
- Owner: McMorran, based in Port Huron, Michigan
- Command: Capt. Peterson (by loss date)
Description
Final Voyage & Storm Incident – October 16, 1893, Lake Michigan
- In October 1893, during the Great Charleston Hurricane, the James D. Sawyer was being towed by the steamer B. W. Arnold from Michigan City toward Chicago.
- Caught in the full force of the hurricane-level gale, the schooner broke free, began taking on water, and was driven ashore near Seul Choix Point—approximately 20 miles northwest of St. Ignace, MI.
- The vessel was pounded to pieces on shore. The crew abandoned ship, suffering no fatalities.
History
Wreck Site & Aftermath
- Location: Shoreline near Seul Choix Point, Michigan (Lake Michigan)
- Condition: Hull completely destroyed by wave action; wreckage scattered along beach
- Salvage/Notification: Declared a total wreck. No records of official salvage. A hazardous wreck charted until removed, then later recovered after approximately one year beached.
Significant Incidents
Archival Sources
- List of shipwrecks in 1893 documents the James D. Sawyer wreck as part of the Great Charleston Hurricane sequence.
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“D” section) provides authoritative details on tonnage, tow operation, storm cause, crew rescue, and site condition.
Final Disposition
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Built in the prosperous post-Civil War era, the James D. Sawyer represents a typical mid-to-large 19th-century Great Lakes cargo schooner used for towing bulk barges.
- Her demise during the severe October 1893 hurricane illustrates the vulnerability of wooden sailing vessels during extreme weather.
- The crew’s survival and eventual recovery of the wrecked vessel contribute to historical understanding of mid-late 19th-century maritime protocols and hazard chart updates.
- The wreck site, around Seul Choix Point, is historically notable for high-energy coastal storms in autumn—potentially containing well-dispersed archaeological artifacts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Further Research & Next Steps
| Research Focus | Suggested Actions |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Coverage | Retrieve Oct–Nov 1893 issues of St. Ignace News and Chicago Tribune for eyewitness accounts and storm descriptions |
| Tow Logs Archives | Search B. W. Arnold steam barge logs for voyage-in-progress notes and crew testimonies |
| Site Investigation | Conduct a coastal survey at Seul Choix Point to detect wood fragments or artifacts from the wreck |
| Crew & Owner Records | Review Port Huron registry and crew manifests for names, insurance claims, or compensation records |
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-d-sawyer-j-d-sawyer-us-75386″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary: The James D. Sawyer was a significant wooden schooner of its time that succumbed to one of the most powerful storms on the Great Lakes—the Great Charleston Hurricane. Though lost nearly 130 years ago, her story remains a compelling case study of wooden sail vessel risk during extreme weather and the procedures for crew rescue and wreck management.
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.
Vessel Identification
- Name: James D. Sawyer (also registered as J. D. Sawyer)
- Official Number: 75386
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Built: 1871 at Tonawanda, New York
- Dimensions: 183 ft × 32 ft × 13 ft; approx. 637 GRT / 605 NRT
- Owner: McMorran, based in Port Huron, Michigan
- Command: Capt. Peterson (by loss date)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Storm Incident – October 16, 1893, Lake Michigan
- In October 1893, during the Great Charleston Hurricane, the James D. Sawyer was being towed by the steamer B. W. Arnold from Michigan City toward Chicago. (Wikipedia)
- Caught in the full force of the hurricane-level gale, the schooner broke free, began taking on water, and was driven ashore near Seul Choix Point—approximately 20 miles northwest of St. Ignace, MI. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- The vessel was pounded to pieces on shore. The crew abandoned ship, suffering no fatalities. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Site & Aftermath
- Location: Shoreline near Seul Choix Point, Michigan (Lake Michigan)
- Condition: Hull completely destroyed by wave action; wreckage scattered along beach
- Salvage/Notification: Declared a total wreck. No records of official salvage. A hazardous wreck charted until removed, then later recovered after approximately one year beached. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Archival Sources
- List of shipwrecks in 1893 documents the James D. Sawyer wreck as part of the Great Charleston Hurricane sequence. (Wikipedia)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“D” section) provides authoritative details on tonnage, tow operation, storm cause, crew rescue, and site condition. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Built in the prosperous post-Civil War era, the James D. Sawyer represents a typical mid-to-large 19th-century Great Lakes cargo schooner used for towing bulk barges.
- Her demise during the severe October 1893 hurricane illustrates the vulnerability of wooden sailing vessels during extreme weather.
- The crew’s survival and eventual recovery of the wrecked vessel contribute to historical understanding of mid-late 19th-century maritime protocols and hazard chart updates.
- The wreck site, around Seul Choix Point, is historically notable for high-energy coastal storms in autumn—potentially containing well-dispersed archaeological artifacts.
Further Research & Next Steps
| Research Focus | Suggested Actions |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Coverage | Retrieve Oct–Nov 1893 issues of St. Ignace News and Chicago Tribune for eyewitness accounts and storm descriptions |
| Tow Logs Archives | Search B. W. Arnold steam barge logs for voyage-in-progress notes and crew testimonies |
| Site Investigation | Conduct a coastal survey at Seul Choix Point to detect wood fragments or artifacts from the wreck |
| Crew & Owner Records | Review Port Huron registry and crew manifests for names, insurance claims, or compensation records |
Summary: The James D. Sawyer was a significant wooden schooner of its time that succumbed to one of the most powerful storms on the Great Lakes—the Great Charleston Hurricane. Though lost nearly 130 years ago, her story remains a compelling case study of wooden sail vessel risk during extreme weather and the procedures for crew rescue and wreck management.
james-d-sawyer-j-d-sawyer-us-75386 1893-10-20 23:22:00