Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Stevenson
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Detroit River
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Information
- Name: John Stevenson
- Built: 1863 (exact yard not located in records)
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Purpose: Bulk cargo transport
Description
Loss Incident – February 19, 1884 (Lake Erie)
- On the night of February 19, 1884, the John Stevenson was run down and sunk by the Grand Trunk Railway’s car ferry Great Western, near Detroit River—likely during crossing or docking maneuvers.
- The impact was sudden and catastrophic—but no casualties were reported; crew escaped, though the vessel sank swiftly.
- The schooner was considered a total loss.
(Note: This incident is reported in secondary shipwreck listings but archival records remain scarce.)
History
Source Trail & Citations
- The collision is widely referenced in regional shipwreck index compilations but lacks primary-source newspaper or registry confirmation.
- Grand Trunk car ferry records of the Great Western document multiple vessel strikes in the early 1880s, but none are conclusively tied to John Stevenson.
Significant Incidents
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Focus Area | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Archives | Consult Detroit Free Press, Windsor Evening Record, and Buffalo Courier for February–March 1884 collision reports |
| Registry & Insurance | Seek official sinking date and survey in Canadian/U.S. vessel registries (1884 edition of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. or Canadian equivalents) |
| Ferry Logs & Reports | Examine Grand Trunk Railway Marine Department’s collision records for details, crew statements, and salvage operations |
| Crash Zone Mapping | Use historical ferry crossing routes to estimate collision location for potential debris or wreck site |
Final Disposition
Significance
The sinking of John Stevenson by a railway ferry underscores early risks faced by small cargo sail vessels among burgeoning industrial transport networks. It also reflects the navigational tensions between sail and steam commuter traffic at Michigan–Ontario waterways in the late 19th century.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-stevenson-1863″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
Vessel Information
- Name: John Stevenson
- Built: 1863 (exact yard not located in records)
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Purpose: Bulk cargo transport
Loss Incident – February 19, 1884 (Lake Erie)
- On the night of February 19, 1884, the John Stevenson was run down and sunk by the Grand Trunk Railway’s car ferry Great Western, near Detroit River—likely during crossing or docking maneuvers.
- The impact was sudden and catastrophic—but no casualties were reported; crew escaped, though the vessel sank swiftly.
- The schooner was considered a total loss.
(Note: This incident is reported in secondary shipwreck listings but archival records remain scarce.)
Source Trail & Citations
- The collision is widely referenced in regional shipwreck index compilations but lacks primary-source newspaper or registry confirmation.
- Grand Trunk car ferry records of the Great Western document multiple vessel strikes in the early 1880s, but none are conclusively tied to John Stevenson.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Focus Area | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Newspaper Archives | Consult Detroit Free Press, Windsor Evening Record, and Buffalo Courier for February–March 1884 collision reports |
| Registry & Insurance | Seek official sinking date and survey in Canadian/U.S. vessel registries (1884 edition of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. or Canadian equivalents) |
| Ferry Logs & Reports | Examine Grand Trunk Railway Marine Department’s collision records for details, crew statements, and salvage operations |
| Crash Zone Mapping | Use historical ferry crossing routes to estimate collision location for potential debris or wreck site |
Significance
The sinking of John Stevenson by a railway ferry underscores early risks faced by small cargo sail vessels among burgeoning industrial transport networks. It also reflects the navigational tensions between sail and steam commuter traffic at Michigan–Ontario waterways in the late 19th century.
john-stevenson-1863 1884-02-19 21:55:00