Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie Corlett
- Type: Wooden-hulled scow-schooner, one deck
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: James Corlett
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 92 GRT
- Location: On or near Chicago Lifesaving Station #7, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 16632
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A flat-bottomed scow-schooner, ideal for hauling bulk cargoes in shallow waters and close to shore. Rugged and utilitarian, these vessels were common in late 19th-century Great Lakes transport.
Description
The Minnie Corlett typifies the rugged yet vulnerable nature of scow-schooners operating near Great Lakes harbors. Her final voyage in March 1878 saw her spring a leak during a storm, drive onto the breakwater near Chicago’s Lifesaving Station #7, and founder while attempting rescue. Tragically, one crewman died. Although her physical remains are unstudied, her story adds to the maritime history of Chicago’s shoreline and the perils faced even by hardy working vessels.
History
- 1866–1876: Experienced multiple groundings and minor incidents, including beachings at Muskegon and Lincoln Cape (1872), and striking the schooner Alleghany near Menominee (1876).
- 1878: While undertaking coastal harbor operations near Chicago, the scow sprang a leak. The crew attempted to ground her on the breakwater adjacent to Lifesaving Station #7. During the effort, she foundered and broke apart in surf. One crew member perished.
- Due to timing around the station’s operations, the U.S. Life-Saving Service was likely involved in rescue efforts, but details and accounts are scarce.
- The wreck was reported in maritime records and the C – Great Lakes Shipwreck Files summarizes: “Driven ashore in a storm … total loss.” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Significant Incidents
- One life lost during the wreck.
Final Disposition
Minnie Corlett was destroyed by surf and structural damage once grounded, leaving no intact hull. Her remains were either removed or remain submerged near the breakwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known dive surveys or underwater archaeological efforts have documented her remains. The site remains part of the shoreline near the former Lifesaving Station #7.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-corlett-us-16632″ title=”References & Links”]
No historical or modern Notices to Mariners (Notmar) reference this wreck. However, breakwaters near Chicago are known hazards, especially during storms—modern vessels should maintain clear distances and heed navigational markers.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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