Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

James Wade US 75522

Explore the wreck of the James Wade, a wooden three-masted schooner that foundered in a storm on Lake Erie in 1883, claiming all seven crew members.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: James Wade
  • Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1873
  • Builder: Reed, Henderson, New York
  • Dimensions: Length ~ 273 ft; Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Approximately 273 gross tons, 212 net tons
  • Location: Near Rondeau Point, Ontario
  • Official Number: 75522
  • Original Owners: Wolf & Davidson of Milwaukee
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The James Wade was a wooden three-masted schooner, originally built with two masts and later rigged to a three-mast configuration.

Description

Constructed in 1873, the James Wade was a significant vessel of its time, primarily used for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. It was registered under the official number 75522 and had a gross tonnage of approximately 273 tons.

History

The James Wade was owned by Wolf & Davidson of Milwaukee, with Captain D.H. Brown at the helm. The vessel left Detroit in late October 1883, carrying around 19,000 bushels of wheat destined for Buffalo. Prior to its final voyage, the schooner had sustained damage from a collision on Lake Erie, necessitating repairs before setting sail.

Significant Incidents

  • Departure & Route: Left Detroit in late October 1883, carrying ~19,000 bushels of wheat bound for Buffalo.
  • Previous Damage: Sustained a collision on Lake Erie earlier and returned to Detroit for repairs.
  • Disappearance: Vanished during a powerful November gale off Rondeau Point, Ontario.
  • Sightings: Only the tops of her masts were observed by passing vessels, unrecognized until identified a few days later.
  • Casualties: All 7 crew members perished when she foundered in the storm.

Final Disposition

The James Wade succumbed to a late-November storm on Lake Erie, going down with her full cargo of wheat and all seven crew members near Rondeau Point. The loss represented a significant economic impact due to the value of the cargo and the human cost of the tragedy.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the James Wade remains unlocated, with no confirmed debris field identified. Future surveys and sonar sweeps may provide insights into its final resting place.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-wade-us-75522″ title=”References & Links”]

The tragedy of the James Wade serves as a stark reminder of the seasonal perils faced by sailing grain carriers on the Great Lakes and highlights areas for further historical and archaeological research.

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 1873 – Foundered ~November 15, 1883

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
  • Built: 1873 at Reed, Henderson, New York; later rigged to a three-mast from two
  • Dimensions: Approximately 273 gross tons, 212 net tons
  • Official Number: 75522
  • Owner & Captain: Owned by Wolf & Davidson of Milwaukee; Master Captain D. H. Brown (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Departure & Route: Left Detroit in late October 1883, carrying ~19,000 bushels of wheat bound for Buffalo (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Previous Damage: Sustained a collision on Lake Erie earlier and returned to Detroit for repairs
  • Disappearance: Vanished during a powerful November gale off Rondeau Point, Ontario
  • Sightings: Only the tops of her masts were observed by passing vessels—unrecognized until identified a few days later (alcheminc.com)
  • Casualties: All 7 crew members perished when she foundered in the storm (alcheminc.com)

Significance & Analysis

  • With a cargo worth around 19,000 bu of wheat, loss of both vessel and crew represented a substantial economic and human impact
  • The incident underscores the vulnerability of sail-powered grain schooners to late-fall Lake Erie gales
  • The delayed identification of the wreck highlights navigation challenges and communication limitations on the Great Lakes at that time

References

  • Alchem Inc. “Lake Erie Shipwreck Map B” — details tonnage, fate, loss of life, cargo, and wreck site (alcheminc.com)
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files — build info, official number, and detailed narrative (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Contemporary shipping and insurance records – mention of the insurance on the wheat cargo and owner’s reaction (vLex, Courtlistener)

Research Gaps & Future Steps

  • Crew Manifest: Seek out registry and Detroit port records for names of the seven crew members
  • Newspaper Accounts: Search November 1883 editions of Detroit Free Press and Buffalo Courier for storm coverage and missing vessel notices
  • Wreck Location Survey: Assess whether stern spars or debris washed ashore near Rondeau Bay; propose sonar sweep for debris field

Conclusion

The James Wade succumbed to a late-November storm on Lake Erie, going down with her full cargo of wheat and all seven crew near Rondeau Point. The tragedy serves as a stark example of seasonal perils faced by sailing grain carriers on the Great Lakes and highlights areas for further historical and archaeological research.

james-wade-us-75522 1883-11-15 15:41:00