Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary and Lucy
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Roderick Calkins, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approximately 94 × 23 × 7 ft; gross tonnage ~113 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: ~113 GRT
- Location: Near Chantry Island, Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mary and Lucy was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
Description
Built in 1855, the Mary and Lucy measured approximately 94 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7 feet. It was primarily used to transport pine lumber.
History
The Mary and Lucy was constructed by Roderick Calkins in Cleveland, Ohio. It served in the Great Lakes trade, carrying cargo such as pine lumber until its loss in 1879.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: September 4, 1879
- Incident: Caught in a severe gale, the vessel was driven into the shallows near Chantry Island, Lake Huron, and wrecked by wave action.
- Rescue Event: A rescue attempt by crew from the passing steamer Manitoba went tragically awry—three of four rescuers drowned when their yawl capsized. The schooner crew was saved, but three rescuers perished.
Final Disposition
The Mary and Lucy was declared a total constructive loss, having been broken to pieces by storm waves.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located near Chantry Island, but specific details about the current condition of the wreck are not documented.
Resources & Links
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The Mary and Lucy was a Cleveland-built schooner laden with pine that succumbed to stormy conditions on September 4, 1879, near Chantry Island in Lake Huron. The vessel was destroyed in the shallows and her crew survived. In a tragic twist, three would-be rescuers from the steamer Manitoba drowned during the rescue. This event highlights the perilous nature of Great Lakes storms and the bravery of mariners in attempting rescue under extreme conditions.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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