Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John E. Potts
- Type: wooden schooner
- Year Built: circa 1856
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Fletcher’s Wharf, Detroit River
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden cargo schooner used for general freight on the Great Lakes.
Description
By June 1895, she had been condemned as unseaworthy and had been laid up at Fletcher’s Wharf (Detroit River) for two years alongside the schooner George W.
History
Records for John E. Potts are sparse and lack official documentation. The vessel was built circa 1856, but details regarding her builder, length, and official number are not recorded.
Significant Incidents
- While moored and inactive, John E. Potts caught fire and burned to a total loss. She was empty at the time—carrying no cargo.
- The blaze likely consumed the hull while tied up alongside the dock.
- No casualties were reported; the vessel was uncrewed and already decommissioned.
Final Disposition
The schooner was destroyed by fire and disposed of; no salvage or subsequent reattachment to registry records. No hull remains are known, and the fire took place in a river setting rather than open lake.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known physical remains have been located. Given the river location and age, any wreck material likely decomposed or was removed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-e-potts-1856″ title=”References & Links”]
John E. Potts was a mid-19th century wooden schooner that spent her final years condemned and docked on the Detroit River. In June 1895, while empty and inactive, she was destroyed by fire. No casualties were involved, but the ship burned completely and was removed from service. Her remains have not been identified, and the incident is minimally documented in surviving records.
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 circa 1856; lost June 21, 1895)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John E. Potts (wooden schooner)
- Year Built: Approximately 1856 (exact builder, length, and official number not recorded)
- Loss Date: June 21, 1895
- Location: Detroit River
Vessel Type & Operational Status
- A wooden cargo schooner used for general freight on the Great Lakes.
- By June 1895, she had been condemned as unseaworthy and had been laid up at Fletcher’s Wharf (Detroit River) for two years alongside the schooner George W.
Circumstances of Loss
- While moored and inactive, John E. Potts caught fire and burned to a total loss. She was empty at the time—carrying no cargo.
- The blaze likely consumed the hull while tied up alongside the dock.
- No casualties were reported; the vessel was uncrewed and already decommissioned.
Final Disposition
- The schooner was destroyed by fire and disposed of; no salvage or subsequent reattachment to registry records.
- No hull remains are known, and the fire took place in a river setting rather than open lake.
Wreck Located
- No known physical remains have been located. Given the river location and age, any wreck material likely decomposed or was removed.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | John E. Potts |
| Year Built | circa 1856 |
| Vessel Type | Wooden schooner |
| Status Prior Loss | Condemned, laid up at dock |
| Cargo | None (empty) |
| Loss Date | June 21, 1895 |
| Loss Location | Fletcher’s Wharf, Detroit River |
| Cause | Fire while berthed at wharf |
| Crew | None aboard |
| Casualties | None |
| Final Condition | Burned out; total loss |
| Wreck Located | No |
Research Challenges & Suggestions
Records for John E. Potts are sparse and lack official documentation:
- Registry and construction details are absent from indexed shipwreck lists.
- Ownership or master identity is not documented.
- The fire origin or circumstances (whether accidental or intentional) are unrecorded.
- Given the location in the Detroit River and the vessel’s inactive status, the incident may have been handled locally and not received broader reporting.
To enrich the vessel’s profile, one could:
- Search period Detroit newspapers (June–July 1895) for dockyard fire reports or insurance notifications.
- Consult port or marine agency logs for Fletcher’s Wharf operations around 1895.
- Investigate local maritime insurance or casualty filings for loss by fire at dock.
Conclusion
John E. Potts was a mid‑19th century wooden schooner that spent her final years condemned and docked on the Detroit River. In June 1895, while empty and inactive, she was destroyed by fire. No casualties were involved, but the ship burned completely and was removed from service. Her remains have not been identified, and the incident is minimally documented in surviving records.
john-e-potts-1856 1895-06-21 19:54:00