Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary D
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: Date not recorded; active in early 1900s
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not listed (likely undocumented or minor craft)
- Location: Off Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
- Official Number: Not listed
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A working schooner carrying lumber on deck—a typical freight rig of Great Lakes commerce at the turn of the 20th century. She relied on sails and had no engine.
Description
While full dimensions are unavailable, Mary D was sized for lumber transport, typically 70–120 ft in length with a modest beam. Deck-loads of lumber were common for vessels supplying smaller ports like Port Sanilac.
History
On 30 August 1901, while en route to Port Sanilac loaded with lumber, Mary D encountered a fierce northwest gale near Pointe Aux Barques. The storm overwhelmed her, causing significant leaks. The U.S. Life-Saving Service arrived around 4 a.m. to rescue the crew, who were later safely evacuated. She was abandoned at sea.
Reports indicate the vessel was sighted drifting with torn sails:
“The Mary D … battling a northwest gale off Pointe Aux Barques.”
Her crew was subsequently transferred via schooners Mont Blanc and Sterling to Long Point and then to Detroit.
Significant Incidents
- 30 August 1901: Encountered a northwest gale, leading to significant leaks and abandonment.
- Rescue by U.S. Life-Saving Service and passing schooners.
Final Disposition
Abandoned offshore, Mary D eventually foundered in deep water—likely sinking near Pointe Aux Barques. No modern surveys or shipwreck identification efforts have located her remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No recorded site surveys, GPS identification, or reconnaissance dives have confirmed the wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-d” title=”References & Links”]
Mary D was a working lumber schooner driven onto trouble by a fierce northwest gale on 30 August 1901. The crew was rescued by life-saving crews and nearby ships. Abandoned and unmarked, she remains a lost vessel likely resting in deep water off Pointe Aux Barques, with no modern rediscovery.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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