Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Milt Gill
- Type: Wood scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: 41 × 13 × 8 ft; 27 tons burden
- Registered Tonnage: 27 tons
- Location: Peche Island, Detroit River
- Official Number: 17350
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wood scow-schooner, typical of the mid-19th-century Great Lakes region, primarily used for transporting lumber and lath.
Description
Description
The Milt Gill was a small scow-schooner measuring 41 feet in length, built in 1861 in Toledo, Ohio. It was primarily engaged in the lumber trade, carrying cargoes of lumber and lath.
History
History
Constructed in 1861, the Milt Gill served in the lumber trade, a vital industry in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century. The vessel’s design was suited for navigating the inland waterways, where it transported goods essential to local economies.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- On August 6, 1868, while departing with a cargo of lumber and lath, the Milt Gill struck and became stranded on Peche Island during a sharp squall.
- Initial salvage efforts were made but were ultimately abandoned, leading to the vessel being declared a total wreck.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Milt Gill was officially noted as a total wreck after salvage attempts were abandoned. There is no indication that any remains were removed from the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and accessibility may be limited due to its location on Peche Island. Further research and surveys are recommended to assess the site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”milt-gill-us-17350″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The Milt Gill, a small scow-schooner engaged in the lumber-lath trade, stranded on August 6, 1868, ashore Peche Island after losing control in the Detroit River. With cargo lightening futile, salvage was abandoned, and she remained a total wreck.
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.
Identification & Construction
- Name: Milt Gill
- Official No.: 17350
- Type: Wood scow‑schooner
- Built: 1861 at Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: 41 × 13 × 8 ft; 27 tons burden
Final Voyage & Wreck
- Date of loss: August 6, 1868
- Scenario: Departing with a cargo of lumber and lath, the Milt Gill struck and became stranded ashore on Peche Island in the Detroit River during a sharp squall. Efforts to refloat her initially began but were ultimately abandoned, and she was officially noted as a total wreck.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident Details & Aftermath
- The wreck was likely caused by a combination of storm-driven drift and the vessel’s light cargo load, which made her particularly vulnerable to the current near Peche Island.
- Initial salvage attempts—probably involving hauling equipment and lightening the vessel—were abandoned late in the season. She was formally declared a wreck, with no indication that her remains were removed.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical Significance
- Milt Gill typifies the small lumber-carrying coastal craft of the mid-19th-century Great Lakes region, essential to the local wood trade.
- Her stranding on Peche Island reflects the navigational hazards inherent to the Detroit River’s currents and sudden squalls.
- Though modest in scale, the incident underscores the vulnerability of scow-type vessels to shifting conditions even in inland waterways.
Gaps & Further Research
| Research Objective | Recommended Sources |
|---|---|
| Storm/weather details | Detroit-area press (Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, early August 1868) |
| Salvage records | Harbor commission and insurance logs in Detroit for late-1868 |
| Vessel registry & ownership | Toledo ship registries to trace ownership and intended operations |
| Archaeological remains | Field survey of Peche Island shoreline for structural remnants or artifact scatters |
Conclusion
The Milt Gill, a small scow-schooner engaged in the lumber-lath trade, stranded on August 6, 1868, ashore Peche Island after losing control in the Detroit River. With cargo lightening futile, salvage was abandoned and she remained a total wreck.
- Drafting newspaper archive queries for the August 1868 squall and stranding?
- Preparing harbor commission or insurance record requests?
- Proposing a brief site reconnaissance of the wreck area near Peche Island?