Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie Davis
- Type: Wooden 2-masted schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length ~95 ft (29 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: ~1.5 miles off Point Moravia, Lake Erie
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden 2-masted schooner, approximately 95 feet in length, primarily used as a coal carrier on Lake Erie.
Description
The Minnie Davis was a wooden schooner that operated as a coal carrier, likely transporting coal between the ports of Cleveland and Huron.
History
On 14 November 1892, the Minnie Davis was rammed by the schooner Hunter Savidge during a dark night, approximately 1.5 miles off Point Moravia. The vessel was carrying coal at the time of the incident.
Significant Incidents
- Rammed by the schooner Hunter Savidge on 14 November 1892.
- Sank rapidly following the collision.
- No loss of life reported; all crew members survived.
Final Disposition
The Minnie Davis was declared a total loss immediately after sinking. An insurance claim was filed, and the registry was closed, but no salvage or rediscovery of the wreck has been documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, no trace of the Minnie Davis has been identified since her sinking, and her current condition remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-davis” title=”References & Links”]
The Minnie Davis serves as a reminder of the maritime history of Lake Erie, having been lost in a tragic collision with no casualties reported. The wreck remains undiscovered, leaving a gap in the historical narrative of the region.
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.
Minnie Davis (schooner, lost 14 November 1892)
Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Minnie Davis
- Type: Wooden 2‑masted schooner (~95 ft in length)
- Trade: Coal carrier on Lake Erie (likely between Cleveland/Huron ports) (Wikipedia, flybridge.proboards.com, Alchem Incorporated)
Final Voyage & Loss Circumstances
- Date of Loss: 14 November 1892
- Incident: Rammed by the schooner Hunter Savidge on a dark night, approximately 1½ miles off Point Moravia (on the U.S. side of Lake Erie). Minnie Davis was carrying coal at the time (flybridge.proboards.com, Wikipedia).
- She sank rapidly following collision.
- Casualties: No loss of life reported (none of her crew were lost) (Wikipedia).
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss immediately after sinking.
- Insurance claim and registry closure followed, though no salvage or rediscovery was documented.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Minnie Davis |
| Type | Wooden schooner (~95 ft) |
| Cargo at Loss | Coal |
| Collision Vessel | Hunter Savidge |
| Loss Date | 14 November 1892 |
| Loss Location | ~1.5 mi off Point Moravia, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Collision at night, sank |
| Casualties | None |
| Outcome | Total loss; no salvage recorded |
| Rediscovery | None known |
Historical & Archival Context
- Minnie Davis is listed in Wikipedia’s “List of shipwrecks in 1891–1892”, confirming the collision with Hunter Savidge and her sinking off Point Moravia, Lake Erie, on 14 November 1892 (linkstothepast.com, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, flybridge.proboards.com).
- A secondary historical entry (Flybridge.com) reiterates: “On 14 November 1892, the 2‑mast, 95‑foot wooden schooner MINNIE DAVIS was rammed on a dark night by the 2‑mast, 117‑foot wooden schooner HUNTER SAVIDGE near Point Moravia…” (flybridge.proboards.com)
Research Gaps & Recommended Follow‑Up
Key archival data remains missing and could be unearthed via these sources:
- Builder, dimensions, official registry number, and ownership of Minnie Davis
- Crew roster and master’s name
- Insurance claim documents from underwriters involved in loss assessment
- Contemporary newspaper articles (e.g., Cleveland Plain Dealer, Detroit Free Press, Sandusky Register) in mid-November 1892 for collision details, crew interviews, or legal outcomes
- U.S. Lifesaving Service or lighthouse keeper logs—especially relevant due to the nighttime collision off Point Moravia
Conclusion
Minnie Davis was a coal‑laden wooden schooner of approximately 95 ft lost in a collision with Hunter Savidge during a dark night on 14 November 1892, about 1½ miles off Point Moravia in Lake Erie. She sank; no casualties were recorded, and she was declared a total loss. No trace of her remains has been identified since.
minnie-davis 1892-11-14 16:19:00