Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: King Sisters
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Not specified, but typical mid-19th-century schooners ranged from 30–40 m (100–130 ft)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Stranded on rocky bottom near Gull Island, Lake Erie
- Number of Masts: Two or three masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two- or three-masted wooden schooner, built for carrying dry bulk goods like grain and wheat across the Great Lakes. These cargo schooners were vital for east-west commerce in the mid–19th century.
Description
Constructed in 1862, King Sisters was engaged in carrying wheat when she encountered a storm while en route from Duluth, Minnesota to Kingston, Ontario. Heavy weather forced her onto a rocky shoal, and she broke apart as wave action increased.
History
- Built for Great Lakes cargo service, particularly the booming grain trade
- At the time of loss, she was eastbound with wheat on board
- The storm that drove her onto Gull Island shelf on October 19, 1884 led to her structural failure and beaching
Significant Incidents
Stranded on a rocky bottom during the storm, King Sisters broke up completely; the hull was a total loss. No survivors are recorded lost among her crew, and no salvage efforts are mentioned, suggesting she was abandoned and left to the elements.
Final Disposition
No known underwater discovery or dive surveys of her remains have been documented. Exact wreck location remains unconfirmed, though historical records place her near Gull Island in Lake Erie.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No Notice to Mariners was issued at the time. Mariners should exercise caution over the Gull Island shoals in Lake Erie during high winds or storms due to submerged hazards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”king-sisters-1862″ title=”References & Links”]
King Sisters was a grain-carrying schooner built in 1862 that met her demise on October 19, 1884 during a gale. Stranded near Gull Island in Lake Erie, she broke apart on rocks and was lost with her wheat cargo—a classic example of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping hazards. Her resting place remains uncharted, representing a potential subject for future maritime archaeology or dive 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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: King Sisters
- Other Names: None recorded
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Build Year: 1862 (linkstothepast.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, dcnrhs.org)
- Dimensions: Not specified, but typical mid-19th-century schooners ranged from 30–40 m (100–130 ft)
- Cargo at Loss: Wheat (linkstothepast.com)
- Date Lost: October 19, 1884
- Location of Loss: Stranded on rocky bottom near Gull Island, Lake Erie (linkstothepast.com)
- Final Status: Total loss; broke up after stranding during storm
VESSEL TYPE
A two- or three-masted wooden schooner, built for carrying dry bulk goods like grain and wheat across the Great Lakes. These cargo schooners were vital for east-west commerce in the mid‑19th century.
DESCRIPTION
Constructed in 1862, King Sisters was engaged in carrying wheat when she encountered a storm while en route from Duluth, Minnesota to Kingston, Ontario. Heavy weather forced her onto a rocky shoal, and she broke apart as wave action increased.
HISTORY
- Built for Great Lakes cargo service, particularly the booming grain trade
- At the time of loss, she was eastbound with wheat on board
- The storm that drove her onto Gull Island shelf on October 19, 1884 led to her structural failure and beaching
INCIDENT & FINAL DISPOSITION
Stranded on a rocky bottom during the storm, King Sisters broke up completely; the hull was a total loss. No survivors are recorded lost among her crew, and no salvage efforts are mentioned, suggesting she was abandoned and left to the elements.
LOCATED BY & DATE FOUND
No known underwater discovery or dive surveys of her remains have been documented. Exact wreck location remains unconfirmed, though historical records place her near Gull Island in Lake Erie.
NOTICES TO MARINERS & ADVISORIES
No Notice to Mariners was issued at the time. Mariners should exercise caution over the Gull Island shoals in Lake Erie during high winds or storms due to submerged hazards.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- History of the Great Lakes (Wisconsin archives): Confirms vessel details, date, cargo, and wreck conditions (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, linkstothepast.com)
Conclusion
King Sisters was a grain-carrying schooner built in 1862 that met her demise on October 19, 1884 during a gale. Stranded near Gull Island in Lake Erie, she broke apart on rocks and was lost with her wheat cargo—a classic example of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping hazards. Her resting place remains uncharted, representing a potential subject for future maritime archaeology or dive exploration.
Keywords & Glossary:
King Sisters; wheat schooner; Duluth–Kingston route; Gull Island wreck; Lake Erie storm; 1884 shipwreck.