Java

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Java
• Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: Weed & Carpenter, Bay City, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam 19 ft (5.8 m); Depth 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 128 tons (Old Measurement)
• Location: Off Dunkirk, New York
• Official Number: None
• Original Owners: W.H. and James Craig of Detroit
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner

Description

The Java was a medium-sized schooner built for Great Lakes commerce, particularly between ports such as Detroit and Dunkirk. Designed for bulk cargo, she had moderate dimensions and was part of the busy copper ore trade of the 1850s.

History

Owned by W.H. and James Craig of Detroit, Java operated on the Great Lakes during a time of expanding industrial activity. On her final voyage, she was transporting a cargo of copper ore from Detroit to Dunkirk. While anchored behind Long Point for shelter during a storm, her anchor chains gave way. The captain attempted to make harbour at Dunkirk, but she was caught in the storm and driven onto the breakwater. The schooner was destroyed, though all crew members were rescued by boats launched from shore.

Significant Incidents

• Wrecked against Dunkirk’s breakwater during a storm on October 8, 1858.

Final Disposition

Wrecked against Dunkirk’s breakwater, declared a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No verified modern discovery of the wreck has been documented.

Resources & Links

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As a part of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes, the Java serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by vessels navigating these waters in the 19th century.