Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Kitty Grant
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner, bulk freight
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: G. Barber in Milwaukee, WI
- Dimensions: 78 ft (23.77 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 75 GRT
- Location: Approximately 20 miles off Little Sable Point, MI
- Official Number: 14035
- Original Owners: Captains Dan I. Davis and Copeland Davis
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Kitty Grant was a typical mid-19th-century wooden schooner, built for bulk freight trade. At approximately 75 gross tons and 78 feet in length, she was suited for hauling lumber and shingles, key commodities in the expanding Great Lakes trade.
Description
On 8 October 1884, Kitty Grant encountered a severe gale while en route from Pentwater to Chicago. She capsized in open waters, and all four crew members were lost. Her overturned hull was later recovered but sank during an attempted towing operation, resulting in total loss of the vessel.
History
- Launched in 1853 from Milwaukee, WI, registered at 75 GRT.
- Operated by owners Captains Dan I. Davis and Copeland Davis of Pentwater—both local shipping entrepreneurs.
- Served freight routes across Lake Michigan, carrying lumber and shingles to growing Midwest markets including Chicago.
- Lost on her 31st year of service, a testament to durable design and long-lived operation.
Significant Incidents
- 8 October 1884: The Kitty Grant capsized in a severe gale, resulting in the loss of all four crew members.
- The vessel’s overturned hull was recovered but sank during an attempted towing operation.
Final Disposition
After capsizing and hull salvage, Kitty Grant was towed but sank under tow. The vessel was never refloated, and no formal salvage or recovery was documented. Her official registry was closed, with wreck presumed lost in deep water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the wreck of the Kitty Grant remains unlocated, presumed lost in deep waters of Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”kitty-grant-14035″ title=”References & Links”]
The Kitty Grant, launched in 1853, served as a small freight schooner hauling lumber and shingles on Lake Michigan. In a violent gale on 8 October 1884, she capsized approximately 20 miles offshore and was lost with all hands. An attempt to tow her recovered hull ended when she sank. This tragic incident underscores both the volatile weather of Lake Michigan and the inherent risk faced by modest freight vessels of the era. Historical registry data and modern research confirm her specifications, ownership, and final loss.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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