Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Schuette
- Type: Wooden Three-Masted Schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Hanson & Scove
- Dimensions: 137.2 × 26.4 × 10.8 ft; 289 GT / 275 NT
- Registered Tonnage: 289 GT / 275 NT
- Location: Mid-Detroit River, near Ecorse, Michigan
- Official Number: 75762
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Three-Masted Schooner (U.S. Official No. 75762)
Description
The John Schuette was a wooden three-masted schooner built in 1875. It was reputedly the first Great Lakes vessel equipped with bilge keels, which were designed to enhance stability in turbulent waters.
History
Built in Two Rivers, Wisconsin by Hanson & Scove, the John Schuette was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes shipping industry. It was primarily used for transporting cargo, including coal.
Significant Incidents
- Final Incident – 2 July 1909: The John Schuette collided with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell while sailing from Cleveland to Lake Superior and sank in the Detroit River. The crew escaped without fatalities.
- Recovery: The wreckage was dragged ashore and subsequently destroyed by dynamite on 14 August 1909.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the John Schuette was destroyed to clear navigation channels in the Detroit River, marking the end of its service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the wreck was dynamited, no substantial remains are expected to be present. However, remnants may persist along the shoreline near Ecorse, warranting further investigation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-schuette-us-75762″ title=”References & Links”]
The three-masted schooner John Schuette sank after colliding with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell in the Detroit River on 2 July 1909. The crew survived, but the vessel was later destroyed to clear navigation channels. As an early vessel fitted with bilge keels, she stands as a testament to maritime technological progress.
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.
Wooden Three-Masted Schooner (U.S. Official No. 75762)
Identification & Build Information
- Built: 1875, Two Rivers (Manitowoc), Wisconsin by Hanson & Scove
- Hull Material: Wood
- Rig: Three-masted schooner
- Dimensions: 137.2 × 26.4 × 10.8 ft; 289 GT / 275 NT — reputedly the first Great Lakes vessel with bilge keels
Final Incident – 2 July 1909
- Date & Location: 2 July 1909, mid–Detroit River, near Ecorse, Michigan
- Event: Sailing from Cleveland to Lake Superior with a cargo of coal, the John Schuette collided with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell and sank in the river. The crew escaped without fatalities (Manitowoc County Historical Society, us-data.org).
- Recovery: The wreckage was dragged ashore and later destroyed by dynamite on 14 August 1909 (Manitowoc County Historical Society).
Context & Historical Significance
- The collision highlights the crowded and hazardous conditions in the busy Detroit River shipping lanes at the start of peak navigation season.
- As an early adopter of bilge keels, the John Schuette represents a notable engineering innovation aimed at improving stability in turbulent waters.
Sources & Citations
- Urbana Daily Courier (July 4, 1909): Reported the sinking off Great Lakes Engineering Works shipyard (Manitowoc County Historical Society, Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections).
- Manitowoc County History Society: Confirms collision with Alfred Mitchell and total loss (Manitowoc County Historical Society).
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (online summary): Provides details on collision, sinking, and dynamiting (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- US-Data.org Shipwreck Records: Official loss on 2 July 1909, cargo listed as coal (us-data.org).
Research & Survey Opportunities
- Detroit Newspaper Archives (July–August 1909)
- Review issues of Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Ecorse Dispatch for collision reports, salvage logs, and crew interviews.
- U.S. Steamboat Inspection & Marine Board Records
- Locate formal investigation files related to the collision. These might be held at the National Archives, region covering Great Lakes.
- Underwater & Shoreline Survey
- Even though the hull was dynamited, remnants may persist along the shoreline near Ecorse. A localized sonar or intertidal search could reveal extant fragments.
Summary
The three-masted schooner John Schuette, built in 1875, sank after colliding with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell in the Detroit River on 2 July 1909. The crew survived, but the vessel was later destroyed to clear navigation channels. As an early vessel fitted with bilge keels, she stands as a testament to maritime technological progress. Would you like help accessing official accident reports, newspaper excerpts, or planning a site assessment in the Ecorse area?
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