Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

L. Painter US 15441

Explore the wreck of the L. Painter, a scow-schooner lost in a squall in 1877, located north of St. Joseph, Michigan.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: L. Painter
  • Type: Wooden scow-schooner
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: South Haven, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 93.74 gross tons
  • Location: 7–10 miles north of St. Joseph, Michigan
  • Coordinates: N/A
  • Official Number: 15441
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Wooden scow-schooner
Decks: 1
Masts: 2

Description

The L. Painter was a wooden scow-schooner built in 1867, primarily used for hauling lumber in southern Lake Michigan waters. It was designed for efficiency and functionality in commercial shipping.

History

In 1868, the L. Painter was owned and likely operated out of South Haven, Michigan. It functioned as a commercial lumber hauler, contributing to the timber trade in the region.

Significant Incidents

Significant incidents include:

  • On 17 October 1877, while laden with lumber, the L. Painter encountered a sudden squall north of St. Joseph, MI.
  • The storm severely damaged the rigging and deckload; the crew stripped her of cargo and sails and intentionally scuttled her to prevent loss at sea.
  • In the days following, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson attempted salvage, but the effort failed, and the vessel was declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

The L. Painter was scuttled after sustaining damage from a squall. The vessel was abandoned, and despite salvage attempts, it was never recovered.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck likely lies in shallow offshore waters north of St. Joseph, Michigan. No underwater surveys or formal archaeological studies have been conducted. Shifting sands and the scow structure suggest minimal surface remains. A side-scan or magnetometer sweep is recommended to confirm the site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-painter-us-15441″ title=”References & Links”]

The L. Painter is emblematic of late-19th-century scow-schooners on the Great Lakes—economical work vessels that often met violent ends in autumn squalls. Although salvaged in part, her stripped and scuttled hull was abandoned north of St. Joseph. A methodical archival and field survey would enrich understanding of scow-schooner design, storm resilience, and salvage practices in this pivotal era of Great Lakes maritime commerce.

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

  • Built: 1867 at South Haven, Michigan
  • Official No.: 15441
  • Type/Decks: Wooden scow-schooner, 1 deck, 2 masts
  • Tonnage: 93.74 gross tons
  • Final Location: 7–10 miles north of St. Joseph, Michigan, in Lake Michigan
  • Loss Date: 17 October 1877
  • Loss Cause: Damaged by sudden squall, stripped of cargo/sails, and scuttled
  • Cargo at Loss: Lumber

History & Operational Background

  • 1868: Owned and likely operated out of South Haven, MI
  • Functioned as a commercial lumber hauler in southern Lake Michigan waters

Incident & Final Disposition

  • On 17 October 1877, while laden with lumber, Painter, L. encountered a sudden squall north of St. Joseph, MI
  • The storm severely damaged rigging and deckload; the crew stripped her of cargo and sails and intentionally scuttled her to prevent loss at sea
  • In the days following, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson attempted salvage, but the effort failed and the vessel was declared a total loss (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, us-data.org)

Crew & Rescue

  • Master recorded as Capt. W. R. Johnson
  • Crew presumably survived—no reported injuries or fatalities in available records (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Site Status & Archaeology

  • Wreck likely lies in shallow offshore waters north of St. Joseph; no underwater surveys or formal archaeological studies located
  • Shifting sands and scow structure suggest minimal surface remains; side-scan or magnetometer sweep recommended to confirm site

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Enrollment & crew documentation: Retrieve U.S. Registry (NARA RG 26) entries (1867–1877) to verify manifest and crew listing
  • USRC Andrew Johnson logs: Review Revenue Cutter Service operational records for detailed salvage notes
  • Contemporary newspaper coverage: Search St. Joseph Herald and Chicago Tribune archives (Oct 1877) for incident reports or salvage actions
  • Field reconnaissance: Conduct remote sensing near 7–10 mile arc north of St. Joseph to locate remains

Conclusion

Painter, L. is emblematic of late‑19th‑century scow-schooners on the Great Lakes—economical work vessels that often met violent ends in autumn squalls. Although salvaged in part, her stripped and scuttled hull was abandoned north of St. Joseph. Yet, the absence of formal archaeological study preserves the opportunity to discover structural remnants or artifacts. A methodical archival and field survey would enrich understanding of scow-schooner design, storm resilience, and salvage practices in this pivotal era of Great Lakes maritime commerce.

Keywords

Scow‑schooner, lumber cargo, Great Lakes squall, 1877 marine casualty, St. Joseph Michigan, USRC Andrew Johnson salvage.

l-painter-us-15441 1877-10-17 01:02:00