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 Two‑Masted Schooner – Manitou Passage, Lake Michigan

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Maid of the West
• Vessel Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner (officially recorded as a schooner before 1859) (Internet Archive, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Year Built: Likely early 1850s
• Registry: U.S. registry, carrying general cargo (lumber & salt)
• Final Location: Manitou Passage, Lake Michigan en route from Kingston, Ontario to Chicago (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Date of Loss: 2 September 1856
• Cargo: Lumber and salt
• Casualties: None reported

Vessel Type Description

Maid of the West was a typical mid‑19th‑century wooden schooner, rigged with two masts and utilized in the regional freight trade between Canada and the American Midwest. Transitional yet functional, these schooners were the workhorse of Great Lakes commerce in that era.

Description

While underway in the Manitou Passage carrying lumber and salt cargo, Maid of the West sprang a sudden leak. The hull quickly filled with water, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The vessel sank rapidly—down to her decks—before any salvage was possible. Her yawl brought her crew safely to the schooner Tom Dyer, located about ten miles distant (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

History

• Construction & Service: Built in Canada (likely Kingston, Ontario) in the early 1850s and engaged in cross‑lake trading routes between Kingston and Chicago.
• Final Voyage: On 2 September 1856, while navigating the Manitou Passage, the vessel sprung a critical leak. The crew evacuated in their yawl and reached safety aboard the Tom Dyer about ten miles away (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
• Insurance: Reportedly, the insurance payout amounted to $6,500 for the loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
• Official Closure: Vessel’s record remained open until approximately 1859, after which it was officially closed (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Final Disposition

The schooner sank in deep water after flooding, with no salvage recovery noted. Her rapid loss and lack of further mention suggest she became a presumed total loss.

Wreck Condition & Dive Notes

Today, no physical wreck site is documented; remains, if any, lie buried or deteriorated in the deep waters of Manitou Passage. No dive surveys or recent explorations have been recorded.

Notmars & Official Advisories

• None noted. In the mid‑19th century, official nautical hazard reporting was limited and informal; no formal Notices to Mariners appear to have accompanied this incident.

Research Gaps & Suggested Follow‑Up

• Crew & Captain Records: Search for operator or master names and crew lists in shipping registries or regional newspapers (Buffalo, Chicago, Kingston) in 1856.
• Crew Survivors: Investigate log entries aboard Tom Dyer for first-hand rescue accounts.
• Insurance Records: Policy documentation may survive in maritime insurance archives from the period.
• Archival Newspapers: Local press coverage from September 1856 (e.g., Kingston or Chicago papers) may contain reports or casualty lists.

Resources & References

• “Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – M‑section” entry for Maid of the West: Detailed description of final voyage, cargo, leak, crew evacuation, sinking, and insurance payout covering the loss on 2 September 1856 in the Manitou Passage (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
• Mansfield’s History of the Great Lakes (Vol. II): Reference to crew assignment and vessel name listing after joinership aboard Maid of the West circa 1848–1850, confirming early schooner service assignments (Internet Archive).

Keywords & Categories

Schooner, two‑masted, leak and foundering, Manitou Passage, 1856 shipwreck, Kingston–Chicago trade, no casualties.

Summary

The Maid of the West, a wooden schooner carrying lumber and salt, sank after springing a leak in the Manitou Passage on 2 September 1856. Her crew survived by escaping in a yawl to the schooner Tom Dyer (~10 miles away). There were no casualties. The vessel was insured—her loss valued at about $6,500. No physical wreck site has been confirmed. Going forward, archival newspapers and maritime insurance records should be sought to enrich the incident narrative and identify individuals involved.

maid-of-the-west 1856-09-02 14:04:00