Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Merchant US 16332

Explore the wreck of the Merchant, the first iron-hulled commercial vessel on the Great Lakes, resting in 25 ft of water off Racine Reef.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Merchant
  • Type: Steam screw cargo propeller
  • Year Built: 1862
  • Builder: David Bell, supervised by J.V.F. Wilson
  • Dimensions: 220.60 ft (67.24 m) X 29.40 ft (8.96 m); Depth of hold: 12.90 ft (3.93 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,068.66 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 7.6 m / 25 ft
  • Location: Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
  • Coordinates: 42° 43.797′ N, 87° 45.853′ W
  • Official Number: 16332
  • Original Owners: J.C. and E.T. Evans, Buffalo, NY; Final Owner: Anchor Line / Erie & Western Transportation Company
  • Number of Masts: 1

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

  • Class: Steam screw cargo propeller
  • Propulsion: Steam screw with auxiliary sail
  • Hull Material: Iron
  • Masts: 1

Description

The Merchant was the first iron-hulled commercial vessel built on the Great Lakes and one of the earliest to utilize coal as fuel. Originally fitted with passenger accommodations, it was later rebuilt as a bulk cargo carrier.

Dimensions:

  • Length: 220.60 ft (67.24 m)
  • Beam: 29.40 ft (8.96 m)
  • Depth of Hold: 12.90 ft (3.93 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 1,068.66 tons

Cargo on Final Voyage (October 1875):

  • 30,000 bushels of corn
  • 1,200 barrels of flour
  • 2,000 bags of flax seed
  • 201 bundles of sheep pelts
  • Miscellaneous sundries

History

  • 1862 – Launched at Buffalo, NY.
  • August 1868 – Went ashore at Malden, Ontario; sank but was raised and repaired.
  • 1872–1873 – Lengthened, rebuilt, and converted for bulk freight; passenger cabins removed.
  • 1875 – Operated by the Anchor Line (Erie & Western Transportation Co.).

Significant Incidents

Incident:

  • Date: October 6, 1875
  • Location: Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Struck Racine Reef in a northeast swell; holed and sank within 15 minutes.

Aftermath:

  • Initial salvage attempted by the wrecking tug Rescue, but the hull was twisted, fractured, and later broke in two.
  • By November 1875, the wreck was declared a total loss.
  • Salvage 1877 – Divers recovered the engine, cylinder, crank, shafting, and iron plating; much of the hull remained scattered on the lakebed.

Casualties: 0 lives lost.

Newspaper Coverage:

  • Milwaukee Sentinel (Oct. 8, 16, Nov. 3, 1875)
  • Detroit Tribune (Aug. 3 & 6, 1877)

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Merchant is located at a depth of approximately 25 ft (7.6 m). The condition of the wreck is heavily broken up and scattered, with the engine salvaged. Today, remnants are visible to divers, primarily iron hull fragments on Racine Reef.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is heavily broken up and scattered; divers can see remnants primarily consisting of iron hull fragments on Racine Reef. The wreck is considered a historic hazard to navigation, and Racine Reef is now marked.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”merchant-us-16332″ title=”References & Links”]

The Merchant is historically significant as the first iron-hulled steamship on the Great Lakes and a pioneer in coal-fired cargo propulsion. Its shallow wreckage serves as a training dive site and a maritime archaeological resource, illustrating the transition from wood to iron construction on the lakes. Ongoing preservation efforts are limited, but documentation of scattered remains helps protect its legacy as a milestone in Great Lakes shipping.

Keywords: Lake Michigan, Racine Reef, iron propeller, 19th-century Great Lakes shipping, shallow wreck dive, coal-fired steamship, first iron hull.

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

  • Vessel Names and Former Names: Merchant (no known previous names)
  • Registry Number: 16332
  • Year Built: 1862
  • Year Sank: 1875
  • Builder: David Bell, supervised by J.V.F. Wilson
  • Construction Site: Buffalo, New York, Ship Canal
  • Original Owners: J.C. and E.T. Evans, Buffalo, NY
  • Final Owner: Anchor Line / Erie & Western Transportation Company
  • Home Port: Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Valuation (1874): $110,000
  • Board of Lake Underwriters Rating: A1 (1874)
  • Official Enrollment Surrendered: June 30, 1879 (vessel declared lost)

Geographical Details:

  • Body of Water: Lake Michigan
  • County: Racine
  • Nearest City: Racine, WI
  • Latitude: 42° 43.797′ N
  • Longitude: 87° 45.853′ W
  • Depth of Wreck: ~25 ft (7.6 m)

Vessel Type

  • Class: Steam screw cargo propeller
  • Propulsion: Steam screw with auxiliary sail
  • Hull Material: Iron
  • Masts: 1

Description

The Merchant was the first iron-hulled commercial vessel built on the Great Lakes and one of the earliest to utilize coal as fuel. Originally fitted with passenger accommodations, it was later rebuilt as a bulk cargo carrier.

Dimensions:

  • Length: 220.60 ft (67.24 m)
  • Beam: 29.40 ft (8.96 m)
  • Depth of Hold: 12.90 ft (3.93 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 1,068.66 tons

Cargo on Final Voyage (October 1875):

  • 30,000 bushels of corn
  • 1,200 barrels of flour
  • 2,000 bags of flax seed
  • 201 bundles of sheep pelts
  • Miscellaneous sundries

History

  • 1862 – Launched at Buffalo, NY.
  • August 1868 – Went ashore at Malden, Ontario; sank but was raised and repaired.
  • 1872–1873 – Lengthened, rebuilt, and converted for bulk freight; passenger cabins removed.
  • 1875 – Operated by the Anchor Line (Erie & Western Transportation Co.).

Final Disposition

Incident:

  • Date: October 6, 1875
  • Location: Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Struck Racine Reef in a northeast swell; holed and sank within 15 minutes.

Aftermath:

  • Initial salvage attempted by the wrecking tug Rescue, but the hull was twisted, fractured, and later broke in two.
  • By November 1875, the wreck was declared a total loss.
  • Salvage 1877 – Divers recovered the engine, cylinder, crank, shafting, and iron plating; much of the hull remained scattered on the lakebed.

Casualties: 0 lives lost.

Newspaper Coverage:

  • Milwaukee Sentinel (Oct. 8, 16, Nov. 3, 1875)
  • Detroit Tribune (Aug. 3 & 6, 1877)

Located By & Present Condition

  • Depth: 25 ft (7.6 m)
  • Condition: Heavily broken up and scattered; engine salvaged.
  • Today: Remnants are visible to divers; primarily iron hull fragments on Racine Reef.

Notmars & Advisories

  • Historic hazard to navigation; Racine Reef now marked.
  • No current Notices to Mariners beyond charted shallow reef warnings.

Resources & Links

Shore Dive Information

  • Entry: Accessible by boat; shallow reef dive.
  • Depth Range: 20–25 ft (6–7.6 m)
  • Bottom: Rocky reef, scattered debris field
  • Hazards: Sharp iron plating, strong northeast swells, variable visibility.
  • Emergency Contact:
    • USCG Milwaukee Sector: +1 (414) 747-7100
    • Racine Fire & Rescue: 911 local
  • Permits: Standard Great Lakes dive regulations; site not designated a preserve.

Conclusion

The Merchant is historically significant as the first iron-hulled steamship on the Great Lakes and a pioneer in coal-fired cargo propulsion. Its shallow wreckage serves as a training dive site and a maritime archaeological resource, illustrating the transition from wood to iron construction on the lakes.

Ongoing preservation efforts are limited, but documentation of scattered remains helps protect its legacy as a milestone in Great Lakes shipping.

Keywords: Lake Michigan, Racine Reef, iron propeller, 19th-century Great Lakes shipping, shallow wreck dive, coal-fired steamship, first iron hull.

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