Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John A. Saunders
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: West shore of Lake Huron, near Lexington, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner, likely used for hauling lumber, coal, or similar cargoes across Lake Huron.
Description
The John A. Saunders was a wooden-hulled, likely single-deck schooner built in 1854 (or possibly 1858). While specific dimensions and tonnage are not explicitly recorded, it is noted that she had typical mid-Victorian schooner proportions.
History
Records indicate she “stranded in a gale and lost” on Lake Huron’s west shore near Lexington in September 1878; a U.S. Lifesaving Service report described her as waterlogged and irreparable. The enrollment for the vessel was officially surrendered on 12 December 1881 at Port Huron and annotated as “wrecked.”
Significant Incidents
- The John A. Saunders took on water during a severe gale, became waterlogged, and ultimately stranded onshore.
- No casualties were reported; the crew survived the incident.
Final Disposition
The hull was abandoned; no salvage or recovery is documented. The remains were likely dismantled or dispersed over time.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No dive surveys or archaeological expeditions have been recorded. Any fragments would likely lie in shallow water or intertidal zones near Lexington, but no physical evidence is documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-a-saunders-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
The John A. Saunders experienced a perilous end typical of Lake Huron schooners in the 19th century. Waterlogged amid a gale off Lexington in September 1878, she stranded and was abandoned, with no fatality. Although her physical wreckage has not been identified, her loss adds depth to the narrative of Great Lakes maritime risk and the role of the Lifesaving Service in documenting these tragedies.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John A. Saunders (officially “Saunders” in later documents; originally recorded as “Sanders”)
- Built: 1854 (or possibly 1858)
- Hull: Wooden-hulled, likely single-deck schooner
- Tonnage & Dimensions: Not explicitly recorded, but typical mid‑Victorian schooner proportions
- Final Loss Date: September 1878
- Location: West shore of Lake Huron, near Lexington, Michigan
- Loss Type: Waterlogged and stranded—foundered during a gale
- Casualties: None reported; crew survived
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner, likely used for hauling lumber, coal, or similar cargoes across Lake Huron.
History & Final Voyage
- Records indicate she “stranded in a gale and lost” on Lake Huron’s west shore near Lexington in September 1878; a U.S. Lifesaving Service report described her as waterlogged and irreparable (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, NPS History, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- The enrollment for the vessel was officially surrendered on 12 December 1881 at Port Huron and annotated as “wrecked” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
- The John A. Saunders took on water during a severe gale, became waterlogged, and ultimately stranded onshore.
- The hull was abandoned; no salvage or recovery is documented. The remains were likely dismantled or dispersed over time.
Located By & Date Found
- No dive surveys or archaeological expeditions have been recorded.
- Any fragments would likely lie in shallow water or intertidal zones near Lexington, but no physical evidence is documented.
Notmar & Advisories
- There are no current or historical Notices to Mariners referencing this wreck.
- The west shore of Lake Huron remains susceptible to sudden gales—caution advised for small craft, especially in late season.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Entry for “John A. Saunders,” including report of being waterlogged, grounded in a storm, and documentation of wreck surrender (linkstothepast.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Conclusion
The John A. Saunders experienced a perilous end typical of Lake Huron schooners in the 19th century. Waterlogged amid a gale off Lexington in September 1878, she stranded and was abandoned, with no fatality. Although her physical wreckage has not been identified, her loss adds depth to the narrative of Great Lakes maritime risk and the role of the Lifesaving Service in documenting these tragedies.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: John A. Saunders, Lake Huron schooner, Lexington shore wreck, 1878 gale
- Categories: Wooden schooner wrecks, 19th-century Great Lakes losses, waterlogging incidents
- Glossary:
- Waterlogged: Filled with water to the point of losing buoyancy.
- Enrollment surrendered: Formal abandonment of vessel registration, annotated “wrecked.”
- U.S. Lifesaving Service: Precursor to the modern Coast Guard; documented maritime accidents.