Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: LEWIS CASS
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1846
- Builder: A. Bradley
- Dimensions: 98 × 24 × 9 ft (29.9 × 7.3 × 2.7 m); 192 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 192 tons
- Location: Near Bailey's Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Capron & Russell of Conneaut, Ohio
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lewis Cass was a wooden, two-masted schooner typical of mid-19th-century Great Lakes lumber transport vessels.
Description
At approximately 30 m (98 ft) in length, the Lewis Cass had a hull designed for cargo carriage—primarily lumber—with a moderate beam and shallow draft suited to varied lake conditions.
History
Built in 1846 in Vermilion, Ohio, she underwent repairs after multiple incidents in the late 1840s and sustained notable damage in collision and grounding events in 1852 and 1854. In 1860, she underwent major repairs. On her final voyage in October 1865, while bound for Bailey’s Harbor, she struck a rock at Green Bay’s mouth, was deliberately run ashore south of Bailey’s Harbor, and deemed a total wreck by early November. The schooner’s sails and gear were salvaged. Her remains were abandoned by underwriters; no lives were lost.
Significant Incidents
- Multiple incidents in the late 1840s.
- Notable damage in collision and grounding events in 1852 and 1854.
- Major repairs in 1860.
- Struck a submerged rock on 30 October 1865.
- Declared a total wreck by early November 1865.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss, the Lewis Cass was left wrecked in the surf zone near Bailey’s Harbor. Her remains likely lie scattered along the shoreline or submerged just offshore, broken by wave action.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater surveys have located her remains. No GPS coordinates are available, and she has not been officially identified by modern exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lewis-cass-1846″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lewis Cass was a wooden schooner built in 1846, owned by Capron & Russell of Conneaut, and lost on 30 October 1865 after striking a submerged rock near Bailey’s Harbor in a storm. She was run ashore and declared a total wreck with no casualties. The remains likely remain in the surf zone, fragmented and unlocated by modern surveys.
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
- Name: LEWIS CASS
- Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Official Number: None
- Built & Launched: 1846 by A. Bradley in Vermilion, Ohio (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Dimensions: 98 × 24 × 9 ft (29.9 × 7.3 × 2.7 m); 192 tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Owners: Capron & Russell of Conneaut, Ohio (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date of Loss: 30 October 1865 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Place of Loss: Struck a submerged rock near Bailey’s Harbor, Lake Michigan (ultimately wrecked on shore) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Casualties: None reported (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo: Lumber
Vessel Type
The Lewis Cass was a wooden, two‑masted schooner typical of mid‑19th-century Great Lakes lumber transport vessels.
Description
At approximately 30 m (98 ft) in length, the Lewis Cass had a hull designed for cargo carriage—primarily lumber—with a moderate beam and shallow draft suited to varied lake conditions.
History
Built in 1846 in Vermilion, Ohio, she underwent repairs after multiple incidents in the late 1840s and sustained notable damage in collision and grounding events in 1852 and 1854. In 1860, she underwent major repairs (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
On her final voyage in October 1865, while bound for Bailey’s Harbor, she struck a rock at Green Bay’s mouth, was deliberately run ashore south of Bailey’s Harbor, and deemed a total wreck by early November. The schooner’s sails and gear were salvaged (wisconsinshipwrecks.org). Her remains were abandoned by underwriters; no lives were lost (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss, the Lewis Cass was left wrecked in the surf zone near Bailey’s Harbor. Her remains likely lie scattered along the shoreline or submerged just offshore, broken by wave action.
Located By & Date Found
No underwater surveys have located her remains. No GPS coordinates are available, and she has not been officially identified by modern exploration.
Notations & Advisories
- No recorded navigational hazard notices.
- Wreckage lies in the surf zone, exposed to wave energy, meaning potential debris fields near Bailey’s Harbor.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks entry on Lewis Cass (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files listing confirming ownership, loss date, and no-loss status (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Lewis Cass was a wooden schooner built in 1846, owned by Capron & Russell of Conneaut, and lost on 30 October 1865 after striking a submerged rock near Bailey’s Harbor in a storm. She was run ashore and declared a total wreck with no casualties. The remains likely remain in the surf zone, fragmented and unlocated by modern surveys.
Suggested Next Research Steps
- Consult Bailey’s Harbor and Door County local archives and newspapers from late October to early November 1865 for detailed wreck reports.
- Coordinate with the Wisconsin Historical Society to locate early salvage records or site plans.
- Conduct a nearshore sonar survey in Bailey’s Harbor surf zone for structural remnants.