Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: MARY ALICE
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Likely a Great Lakes port (specific location not recorded)
- Dimensions: Length 20-30 m (65-100 ft); Beam 5-7 m (16-23 ft); Depth of hold 2-3 m (6-10 ft)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Michigan
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The MARY ALICE was a small wooden schooner likely engaged in the short-haul lumber or cordwood trade, typical for the Great Lakes in the mid–late 19th century. These vessels were prized for their shallow draft, making them effective for working near shore and in small harbours.
Description
Built in 1866, the MARY ALICE operated as a small carrier on the lakes, transporting wood products. On 14 July 1884, she was caught in a sudden squall, capsized, and foundered. Despite the assistance of the tug HERCULES, the schooner could not be saved and went down at approximately noon. There is no mention of casualties, but the loss was considered complete.
History
No documented modern discovery or archaeological survey reported.
Significant Incidents
- 14 July 1884: Caught in a sudden squall, capsized, and sank in Lake Michigan.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Presumed to have sunk in Lake Michigan, precise coordinates not recorded
- Date Lost: 14 July 1884
- Final Cargo: Wood
- How Lost: Capsized in squall
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed wreck location is recorded, and there are no reports of subsequent salvage or archaeological identification.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-alice-1866-schooner” title=”References & Links”]
The MARY ALICE is representative of the many modest-sized lumber schooners that plied the Great Lakes. Her rapid loss in a squall underscores the ever-present danger of sudden storms on the lakes, which often overcame lightly ballasted wood carriers.
Keywords: schooner, Lake Michigan, lumber carrier, squall, capsizing, 19th-century shipping
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
- Name: MARY ALICE
- Year Built: 1866
- Built at: Likely a Great Lakes port (specific location not recorded)
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Number of Masts: 2 (typical for a vessel of this type, though not explicitly stated)
Dimensions
- Exact measurements unrecorded, but typical small lumber schooner of the era would have been approximately 20–30 m (65–100 ft) in length, 5–7 m (16–23 ft) beam, 2–3 m (6–10 ft) depth
Vessel Type Description
The MARY ALICE was a small wooden schooner likely engaged in the short-haul lumber or cordwood trade, typical for the Great Lakes in the mid–late 19th century. These vessels were prized for their shallow draft, making them effective for working near shore and in small harbours.
History
Built in 1866, the MARY ALICE operated as a small carrier on the lakes, transporting wood products. On 14 July 1884, she was caught in a sudden squall, capsized, and foundered. Despite the assistance of the tug HERCULES, the schooner could not be saved and went down at approximately noon. There is no mention of casualties, but the loss was considered complete.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Presumed to have sunk in Lake Michigan, precise coordinates not recorded
- Date Lost: 14 July 1884
- Final Cargo: Wood
- How Lost: Capsized in squall
Located By & Date
No documented modern discovery or archaeological survey reported.
NOTMARs & Advisories
None noted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed wreck location is recorded, and there are no reports of subsequent salvage or archaeological identification.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Bowling Green State University Vessels Database
Conclusion
The MARY ALICE is representative of the many modest-sized lumber schooners that plied the Great Lakes. Her rapid loss in a squall underscores the ever-present danger of sudden storms on the lakes, which often overcame lightly ballasted wood carriers.
Keywords: schooner, Lake Michigan, lumber carrier, squall, capsizing, 19th-century shipping
mary-alice-1866-schooner 1884-07-14 19:54:00