Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie Williams
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Dunkirk, New York
- Dimensions: Length 120 ft (36.6 m); Beam 25 ft; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~185 GRT
- Location: Lake Erie
- Official Number: 23664
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Minnie Williams was a two-masted wooden schooner, primarily used for coal and bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1862 in Dunkirk, New York, the Minnie Williams measured approximately 120 feet in length and 25 feet in beam. She was registered with an official number of 23664 and had a gross registered tonnage of around 185 tons.
History
The Minnie Williams operated for over a decade in the Great Lakes coal and bulk freight trade. Such schooners were typically towed by steam tugs during heavy weather, and her foundering after being lost from tow exemplifies the hazards of late-season storms.
Significant Incidents
- Final Voyage: En route from Cleveland to Chicago, carrying coal.
- Incident: Caught in a severe gale on Lake Erie; foundered and broke apart—lost from tow and sank.
- Casualties: All hands lost; eight crewmen believed drowned.
- Evidence: The vessel was not reported overdue until her broken yawl and several bodies washed ashore on October 28.
Final Disposition
Reports note bodies found drifting ashore and a smashed yawl found near Pelee Island. No salvage was recorded; the ship was declared a total loss after sinking in deep water. As with many Great Lakes losses of the period, details remain scarce due to minimal survivors and record limitations.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Minnie Williams lies submerged in Lake Erie, with no known salvage efforts undertaken since her sinking.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-williams-us-23664″ title=”References & Links”]
The Minnie Williams serves as a reminder of the perils faced by mariners on the Great Lakes, particularly during the treacherous late-season storms.
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.
(wooden schooner, 1862–1875)
- Built: 1862 in Dunkirk, New York
- Official Number: 23664
- Type: Two‑masted wooden schooner
- Tonnage: ~185 GRT
- Size (approx.): Length 120 ft; Beam 25 ft (typical for registry class)
Final Voyage & Catastrophe – October 23–27, 1875
- Route: En route from Cleveland to Chicago, carrying coal
- Incident: Caught in a severe gale on Lake Erie; foundered and broke apart—lost from tow and sank
- Casualties: All hands lost; eight crewmen believed drowned
- Evidence: The vessel was not reported overdue until her broken yawl and several bodies washed ashore on October 28 hinted at the tragedy () (ladyslipperpress.org, boem.gov, marshcollection.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, facebook.com)
Service History & Context
- The Minnie Williams operated for over a decade in the Great Lakes coal and bulk freight trade
- Such schooners were typically towed by steam tugs during heavy weather; her foundering after being lost from tow exemplifies the hazards of late-season storms
Aftermath & Recovery
- Reports note bodies found “drifting ashore” and a smashed yawl found near Pelee Island
- No salvage was recorded; the ship was declared a total loss after sinking in deep water
- As with many Great Lakes losses of the period, details remain scarce due to minimal survivors and record limitations
Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Built | 1862, Dunkirk, NY |
| Registry | Official No. 23664 |
| Lost | Oct 23–27, 1875, Lake Erie during gale |
| Cargo | Coal |
| Casualties | All crew (8) lost |
| Clue to loss | Broken yawl & bodies ashore on Oct 28 |
| Outcome | Schooner foundered, total loss |