Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: M.I. Wilcox
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1866–1868
- Builder: Bailey (Toledo, Ohio)
- Dimensions: Length: 137 ft (41.8 m); Beam: 27.6–28 ft (8.4–8.5 m); Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 377 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 7.6 m / 25 ft
- Location: Off Colchester, Ontario
- Coordinates: N 41° 58.83' / W 82° 56.45'
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Final owner: Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Co., Detroit
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The M.I. Wilcox was a wooden, two-masted schooner built primarily for the lumber trade. Constructed with oak timbers, she was designed to carry bulk cargo across the Great Lakes and was frequently towed by steamers later in her career. Her hull was flat-bottomed, making her suitable for shallow draft routes.
Description
The M.I. Wilcox was a wooden, two-masted schooner built primarily for the lumber trade. Constructed with oak timbers, she was designed to carry bulk cargo across the Great Lakes and was frequently towed by steamers later in her career. Her hull was flat-bottomed, making her suitable for shallow draft routes.
History
Launched in the late 1860s in Toledo, Ohio, the M.I. Wilcox began service in the Great Lakes’ lumber trade. By 1876, she was owned by Bissell & Miner. She later passed to various owners including Miner of Cape Vincent, NY. By the 1880s–1900s, she was often under tow by steamers such as the Huron City, D.J. Foley, and Ogemaw. In 1903, she was acquired by the Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Company of Detroit.
Significant Incidents
- On 8 May 1906, while under tow during a southwest gale, the M.I. Wilcox grounded near Colchester, Ontario. Her crew manned the pumps for over 10 hours before abandoning ship. The vessel foundered in 26 feet of water. All five crew members, including a woman cook, survived by reaching Detroit.
Final Disposition
On 8 May 1906, while under tow during a southwest gale, the M.I. Wilcox grounded near Colchester, Ontario. Her crew manned the pumps for over 10 hours before abandoning ship. The vessel foundered in 26 feet of water. All five crew members, including a woman cook, survived by reaching Detroit.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies in 25 ft (7.6 m) of water near the given LORAN coordinates (43802.2 / 56959.5). It is frequently visited by divers and has been documented by underwater photographers. The site is in recreational diving range with typical Lake Erie conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”m-i-wilcox-1868″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
All crew survived the sinking of the M.I. Wilcox, and the wreck remains a popular dive site. Divers are encouraged to practice no-touch documentation methods and to leave the site better than they found it, ensuring the preservation of this historical artifact.
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
Other Names: M.J. Wilcox (variant spelling)
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Builder: Bailey (Toledo, Ohio)
Year Built: 1866–1868 (conflicting sources)
Dimensions: Length: 137 ft (41.8 m); Beam: 27.6–28 ft (8.4–8.5 m); Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
Tonnage: 377 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: 8 May 1906
Location: Off Colchester, Ontario, Lake Erie
Coordinates: N 41° 58.83′ / W 82° 56.45′
Depth: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Home Port: Sandusky, Ohio
Owners: Final owner: Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Co., Detroit
Crew: 5 (4 men, 1 woman cook)
Casualties: None – all survived
Description
The M.I. Wilcox was a wooden, two-masted schooner built primarily for the lumber trade. Constructed with oak timbers, she was designed to carry bulk cargo across the Great Lakes and was frequently towed by steamers later in her career. Her hull was flat-bottomed, making her suitable for shallow draft routes.
History
Launched in the late 1860s in Toledo, Ohio, the M.I. Wilcox began service in the Great Lakes’ lumber trade. By 1876, she was owned by Bissell & Miner. She later passed to various owners including Miner of Cape Vincent, NY. By the 1880s–1900s, she was often under tow by steamers such as the Huron City, D.J. Foley, and Ogemaw. In 1903, she was acquired by the Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Company of Detroit.
Final Disposition
On 8 May 1906, while under tow during a southwest gale, the M.I. Wilcox grounded near Colchester, Ontario. Her crew manned the pumps for over 10 hours before abandoning ship. The vessel foundered in 26 feet of water. All five crew members, including a woman cook, survived by reaching Detroit.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck lies in 25 ft (7.6 m) of water near the given LORAN coordinates (43802.2 / 56959.5). It is frequently visited by divers and has been documented by underwater photographers.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. The site is in recreational diving range with typical Lake Erie conditions.
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive
Entry Point: Colchester Harbour
Conditions: Variable visibility; thermocline in summer
Depth Range: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Essex County EMS
Permits: Not required
Dive Support: Charter services out of Colchester and Leamington
Crew & Casualty Memorials
All crew survived. Names not individually recorded in available sources.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The crew manned the pumps over 10 hours as the schooner settled in the shallows off Colchester. All reached shore safely, but the vessel was a total loss.” — ErieWrecks.com
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Built in Toledo, OH; registered to various owners through 1906; tonnage listed as 377 GRT. Final owner listed as Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Co., Detroit.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Photos and dive reports available at ErieWrecks.com. Site occasionally visited by dive clubs in southwestern Ontario.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- ErieWrecks.com: M.I. Wilcox
- Great Lakes REX Project
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships
References
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: M.J. Wilcox
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: N 41° 58.83′ / W 82° 56.45′
Depth: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Location Description: Shoal near Colchester, Ontario
Vessel Type: Schooner
Material: Wood (Oak)
Dimensions: 137 ft x 27.6 ft x 14 ft; 377 GRT
Condition: Partial structure intact, shallow upright wreck
Cause of Loss: Foundering in gale
Discovery Date: Documented early 2000s
Discovered By: Recreational divers (unattributed)
Method: Dive
Legal Notes: No known restrictions; wreck is outside Canadian sanctuary boundaries
Hazards: Fishing lines, low visibility
Permits Required: None