Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lively
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 400 tons
- Location: Near Bay City, Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Schooner, built in 1856.
Description
The Lively was a wooden schooner that carried a cargo of 400 tons of coal. It was lost on November 3, 1878, during a storm while bound for Chicago via Bay City.
History
No registry data is available, including builder or exact dimensions. The grounding occurred near Bay City, a significant coal port, suggesting it was overwhelmed by a late-fall gale.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: November 3, 1878
- Cargo: 400 tons of coal
- Route: Bound for Chicago via Bay City, Lake Huron
- Incident: Stranded ashore during storm, wrecked despite towing efforts
- Crew: No casualties reported
Final Disposition
No information is available regarding recovery, salvage, or insurance claims following the wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and no dive conditions have been documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lively-1856″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research is needed to uncover more details about the Lively, including its specifications, incident records, and any potential salvage efforts.
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.
(Wooden Schooner, built 1856; lost November 3, 1878)
Known Summary
- Loss Date: November 3, 1878
- Cargo: 400 tons of coal
- Route: Bound for Chicago via Bay City, Lake Huron
- Incident: Stranded ashore during storm, wrecked despite towing efforts
- Crew: No casualties reported
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Historical Context & Construction
- No registry data (e.g., official number, exact dimensions, builder) is available in the searchable sources. The 400-ton cargo of coal suggests a larger-than-average mid-19th-century schooner or barge.
- The grounding occurred near Bay City, a significant coal port, making it a plausible location for such a vessel to be overwhelmed by a late-fall gale.
Research Gaps
- Vessel Specifications: No builder, home port, or enrollment information found in current sources.
- Incident Record: Details other than the basic storm grounding and cargo acknowledgment are absent.
- Salvage & Aftermath: No mention of recovery, paperwork on insurance claims, or subsequent inquiry.
- Primary Sources: No contemporary newspaper articles or official logs have surfaced.
Recommended Research Paths
To build a more complete vessel profile, consider the following archival directions:
- Regional Newspaper Clippings (Nov–Dec 1878)
- Search Bay City Journal‐American, Detroit Free Press, or Milwaukee Sentinel for storm and storm‑damage coverage, ship names, crew reports, or salvage operations referencing a coal schooner named Lively.
- Ship Registry & Enrollment Records
- Investigate Buffalo or Detroit registry archives, enrollment certificates, and port clearance logs between 1850–1878, focusing on any vessel named Lively carrying coal on Lake Huron.
- Steamboat Inspection & Casualty Reports
- Although designated as a schooner, any formal inspection files or incident logs may have documented the ship’s structural details or cause-of-loss evaluations.
- Marine Insurance and Salvage Record Searches
- Underwriter ledgers or salvage firms near Bay City may have noted claims involving coal schooners stranded in late 1878.
- Local Port/Harbor Authority Archives
- Any reports or notices referencing the wreck site or dangers off the Bay City harbor could be referenced in port management documents.
Summary Table
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Lively |
| Loss Date | November 3, 1878 |
| Cargo | 400 tons coal |
| Route | Bay City → Chicago |
| Cause of Loss | Stranded in storm |
| Crew | Safe; no deaths noted |
| Registry Details | Unknown |
| Additional Source Info | None available |