Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Mark
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: A. Turner, Trenton, Ohio
- Dimensions: 142 ft × 27 ft × 9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 299 gross tons, 284 net tons
- Location: Simcoe Island, Ontario
- Coordinates: Coordinates are unrecorded.
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The John Mark was a wooden two-masted schooner-barge, designed for carrying cargo across the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1870 by A. Turner in Trenton, Ohio, the John Mark measured 142 feet in length, 27 feet in beam, and had a depth of 9 feet. She was registered at 299 gross tons and 284 net tons.
History
The John Mark was primarily used for transporting cargo, including stone, along the Great Lakes. Her final voyage began from Marblehead, Ohio, bound for Fairport, Ohio.
Significant Incidents
- Date of loss: October 23, 1903
- Incident: The vessel sprang a leak in heavy seas during a severe storm and began to founder off Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie.
- Crew Rescue: The U.S. Life-Saving Service from Erie successfully rescued the crew.
- Aftermath: The vessel foundered, and no salvage was feasible.
Final Disposition
The John Mark came ashore on Simcoe Island, heavily damaged. While listed in Great Lakes shipwreck registries, her precise location remains unrecorded, and her remains are likely dispersed near Simcoe Island.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the John Mark poses no navigational concern, as it is listed in shipwreck registries but lacks precise location data.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-mark-1870″ title=”References & Links”]
The John Mark, a 142-foot wooden schooner-barge, succumbed to a leak during a storm off Kelley’s Island on October 23, 1903. While her crew was safely rescued, she ultimately foundered and washed ashore on Simcoe Island. Though recorded in shipwreck indexes, her remains have not been precisely mapped—making her a viable candidate for dive survey or archival exploration.
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.
Identification & Construction
- Name: John Mark
- Year Built: 1870
- Shipyard: A. Turner, Trenton, Ohio
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner‑barge
- Dimensions: 142 ft × 27 ft × 9 ft
- Tonnage: 299 gross tons, 284 net tons
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of loss: October 23, 1903
- Route: Bound from Marblehead, Ohio, to Fairport, Ohio
- Cargo: Stone
- Incident: Sprang a leak in heavy seas during a severe storm. Began to founder off Kelley’s Island, Lake Erie.
- Crew Rescue: U.S. Life-Saving Service from Erie rescued the crew.
- Aftermath: The vessel foundered; no salvage was feasible.
- Wreck Site: Came ashore on Simcoe Island (Ontario), heavily damaged. Coordinates are unrecorded.
(manitouislandsarchives.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Status & Navigation
- The John Mark is listed in Great Lakes shipwreck registries but lacks precise location data. Her remains likely lie dispersed near Simcoe Island and poses no navigational concern.
Sources & Research Paths
- GreatLakesRex Shipwreck Files – Provides details on sinking, rescue by Lifesaving Service, and wreck condition ashore. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- U.S. Life-Saving Service 1903 Report – Confirms rescue operations and provides context. (Internet Archive)
Summary
The John Mark, a 142-foot wooden schooner‑barge, succumbed to a leak during a storm off Kelley’s Island on October 23, 1903. While her crew was safely rescued, she ultimately foundered and washed ashore on Simcoe Island. Though recorded in shipwreck indexes, her remains have not been precisely mapped—making her a viable candidate for dive survey or archival exploration.
john-mark-1870 1903-10-23 12:02:00