Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Mary Amelia
• Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 5 m / 16 ft
• Location: Lake Huron
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

(wooden schooner, built 1857)

Description

Identification & Incident Details

• Vessel Name: Mary Amelia
• Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Final Voyage: October 11, 1899 (per Great Lakes Shipwreck Files record)
• Cargo: Light—carrying minimal ballast
• Voyage Route: Outbound from Bois Blanc Island channel area toward Erie, likely Lake Huron–Erie passage
• Incident: Collided with the schooner Selkirk during a night passage under unfamiliar watch conditions; Selkirk struck Mary Amelia on the starboard side
• Crew: Five aboard; all lost—none survived

History

This account aligns with a contemporary wreck report stating: “On Tuesday night last the schooner Mary Amelia… collided with the schooner Selkirk… The Mary Amelia sank in 16 feet of water. … she was placed by [Customs] in the hands of S. McGee, Receiver of Wrecks.” (marshcollection.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Significant Incidents

Wreck Circumstances & Location

• Collision Cause: The disaster was attributed to “an inexperienced man being at the wheel” on the Selkirk
• Sinking Depth: Rested in approximately 16 feet (5 m) of water
• Wreck Authority Handling: Customs transferred wreck control to S. McGee, Receiver of Wrecks—implying official abandonment and documentation

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

• The vessel was declared a constructive total loss after sinking.
• No records indicate successful salvage; Mary Amelia remained stranded and was effectively abandoned under U.S. harbor authority.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Archival Gaps & Further Research Recommendations

• Construction Details: Year, builder, dimensions, registry number not yet identified. Investigate Lloyd’s Register and U.S. merchant vessel lists for “Mary Amelia” schooners circa 1850–1880.
• Selkirk Records: Captain O. E. Bullock’s logs and vessel history may reveal collision specifics and aftermath.
• Crew Roster & Casualties: Confirm identities and duties via newspaper articles (e.g. Detroit Free Press, Toledo Blade) from November 1899.
• Official Report Documentation: File query for Customs or Receiver of Wrecks records under S. McGee concerning Mary Amelia.
• Site Survey: The 16 ft depth suggests relatively accessible wreck site; sonar or dive survey could locate debris field and recovery artifacts.
• Newspaper Coverage: Search for collision notices and casualty reports in local papers – especially around Bois Blanc Island, Harbor Beach, and Port Huron regions.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-amelia” title=”References & Links”]

The Mary Amelia met her end in an avoidable nighttime collision with the Selkirk, apparently due to improper watch handling. She sank quickly in shallow water, drowning all five crew with her. Official abandonment suggests limited salvage; her wreck remains an accessible candidate for archaeological survey. Comprehensive documentation—including crew lists, registry data, and collision reports—await discovery in period newspapers, Customs archives, and vessel registries.