Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

John Eggers (1867)

Explore the wreck of the John Eggers, a gravel scow lost in a storm in 1906 near Racine, Wisconsin.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: John Eggers
  • Type: Wooden scow-schooner (gravel excavation vessel)
  • Year Built: 1887
  • Builder: John Eggers Sr.
  • Dimensions: 58.7 × 14.0 × 3.4 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: ~25 GRT
  • Location: Off Wind Point near Racine, Wisconsin
  • Original Owners: John Eggers Sr.
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

(two-masted gravel scow)

Description

The John Eggers was designed as a gravel scow, primarily used for extracting and transporting gravel for construction and maritime infrastructure along the coast. Its flat-bottomed, shallow hull allowed for operations in harbors and nearshore zones, but also made it vulnerable to sudden storm surges.

History

Built in 1887 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by John Eggers Sr., the John Eggers was likely operated under direct ownership by her builder. The vessel played a significant role in gravel excavation operations typical of the era, reflecting the technical and logistical vulnerabilities faced by small workboats during lake storms.

Significant Incidents

  • On May 26, 1906, during loading operations at dawn, a sudden late-spring storm erupted, driving the John Eggers ashore, where it remained aground one mile north of Wind Point Lighthouse.
  • The crew escaped safely; lifesaving services responded but were unable to assist due to gale-force conditions.
  • The vessel was declared a total loss and allowed to break up over the winter. Divers later located the remains, though identification wasn’t confirmed.

Final Disposition

The John Eggers sank after being driven ashore by a storm at Wind Point. Despite the successful evacuation of the crew, the vessel was destroyed and remains unrecovered, illustrating the perils faced by small workboats during Great Lakes squalls.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, as it was allowed to break up over the winter following its loss. Divers have located the remains, but identification has not been confirmed.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-eggers-1867″ title=”References & Links”]

The story of the John Eggers serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by maritime operations in the Great Lakes, particularly for smaller vessels vulnerable to sudden weather changes.

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.

(two-masted gravel scow)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: John Eggers
  • Built: 1887 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by John Eggers Sr.
  • Type: Wooden scow-schooner (gravel excavation vessel); 58.7 × 14.0 × 3.4 ft, ~25 GRT
  • Loss Date: May 26, 1906
  • Location: Off Wind Point near Racine, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Gravel (being loaded from lakebed)

Incident & Final Disposition

  • During loading operations at dawn, a sudden late-spring storm erupted. The John Eggers was driven ashore, remaining aground one mile north of Wind Point Lighthouse.
  • The crew escaped safely; lifesaving services responded but were unable to assist due to gale-force conditions
  • The vessel was declared a total loss, allowed to break up over the winter. Divers later located the remains, though identification wasn’t confirmed

Vessel Role & Context

  • Designed as a gravel scow, she extracted and transported gravel for construction and maritime infrastructure along the coast.
  • Her flat-bottomed, shallow hull enabled operations in harbors and nearshore zones—but left her highly vulnerable during sudden storm surges.

Research Notes & Highlights

  • Built and operated locally in Milwaukee, likely under direct ownership by her builder, John Eggers Sr.
  • The rescue and loss scenario reflect typical gravel scow operations at the turn of the century—confirming technical and logistical vulnerabilities during lake storms.

Conclusion

The John Eggers sank on May 26, 1906, after being driven ashore by a storm at Wind Point. Despite successful crew evacuation, the vessel was destroyed and remains unrecovered—representative of the perils faced by small workboats during Great Lakes squalls.

john-eggers-1867 1906-05-26 01:49:00