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.

Shipwreck Report: MARCIA A. HALL (1895)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: MARCIA A. HALL
• Former Names: Built as ADA; also recorded as MARIA A. HALL, MERCIER E. HALL, M. A. HALL, MERCIE E. HALL, MAURICE A. HALL
• Official Number: C71135
• Type at Loss: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
• Date Built and Launched: 1860
• Builder: Cornell, Port Dover, Ontario
• Measurements: 76 ft (23.2 m) length, 16 ft (4.9 m) beam, 7 ft (2.1 m) depth
• Tonnage: 72 tons
• Date Lost: July 21, 1895
• Place of Loss: Not specifically reported, Lake Huron

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner

Description

The MARCIA A. HALL was a small, wooden two-masted schooner, built in 1860 at Port Dover, Ontario. Over her 35-year career, she underwent several rebuilds and repairs:

• Rebuilt in 1872 and 1874
• Major repairs in 1882

Despite her age, she remained active on the Great Lakes, primarily used for cargo transport.

The vessel had a notorious past, with an unusual incident in 1880, when her captain suffered from delirium tremens (DTs), took a young crewman into the yawl, and jumped overboard, claiming he was fleeing pirates when later rescued.

Final Voyage & Loss

On July 21, 1895, MARCIA A. HALL was caught in a sudden squall on Lake Huron. The vessel foundered, sinking before the crew could save her.

The crew managed to escape in the ship’s yawl, but disaster struck again when the yawl capsized, causing them to lose their oars. Adrift and unable to navigate, they were forced to wait for rescue.

After an entire day lost at sea, the men were finally spotted and rescued by the tug EVELYN.

The vessel’s official documents were surrendered in 1897, marked “Lost in 1895.”

Final Disposition

Foundered in a squall on Lake Huron on July 21, 1895.

• Crew survived but endured a difficult escape before being rescued by the tug EVELYN.
• Declared a total loss.
• Exact wreck location unknown.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of MARCIA A. HALL‘s wreck being located.

Notmars & Advisories

Nil—no known navigational advisories related to the wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Ontario Shipwreck Research

Conclusion

The MARCIA A. HALL represents a classic Great Lakes schooner, operating for over three decades before succumbing to rough waters. Her final moments were harrowing, with the crew stranded at sea for a day before rescue.

The vessel’s unusual history, including her captain’s alleged pirate escape in 1880, adds an element of maritime folklore to her story.

Though no remains have been found, her loss is documented as part of Lake Huron’s many shipwrecks, a reminder of the perils faced by sailors on the Great Lakes.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: MARCIA A. HALL shipwreck, Lake Huron schooner, Great Lakes maritime rescue, Tug EVELYN rescue, 19th-century shipwreck
• Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Schooner Losses, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, 19th-Century Maritime Disasters, Unlocated Shipwrecks
• Glossary Terms:
• Foundered: A vessel that sank due to taking on water, often in rough weather.
• Yawl: A small boat carried on larger ships, used for emergency escape or shore travel.
• Delirium Tremens (DTs): A severe withdrawal condition, often caused by alcohol abuse, which can lead to hallucinations and erratic behavior—a possible factor in the captain’s 1880 incident.

The MARCIA A. HALL was a small, wooden two-masted schooner, built in 1860 at Port Dover, Ontario. Over her 35-year career, she underwent several rebuilds and repairs: marcia-a-hall-c-71135-ada 1895-07-21 07:56:00