Maid of the West

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Maid of the West
• Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
• Year Built: Likely early 1850s
• Builder:
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Manitou Passage, Lake Michigan
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

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.

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.
• Insurance: Reportedly, the insurance payout amounted to $6,500 for the loss.
• Official Closure: Vessel’s record remained open until approximately 1859, after which it was officially closed.

Significant Incidents

• None reported.

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.

Current Condition & Accessibility

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.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”maid-of-the-west” title=”References & Links”]

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.