Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Monitor
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Number of Masts: Presumed two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Monitor was likely a two-masted wooden schooner, typical of vessels built for Great Lakes freight service in the 1860s. These schooners were workhorses, hauling grain, lumber, coal, and stone between Lake Michigan ports.
Description
The Monitor foundered suddenly on September 25, 1898, under still-unclear conditions, resulting in the loss of five lives. The next day, the ship was observed with two spars visible above water, suggesting that the vessel either sank in shallow water or remained temporarily buoyant while partially submerged.
History
No recovery was documented at the time, and the event was recorded as a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Loss of five lives during the sinking.
Final Disposition
The Monitor sank in Lake Michigan. The visibility of two spars post-wreck suggests a shallow or semi-submerged wreck site. The current location is not confirmed in public wreck registries and may remain undocumented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck’s condition is unknown, and it may be difficult to locate due to the lack of GPS data and documentation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”monitor-1862″ title=”References & Links”]
The Monitor serves as a reminder of the perils faced by Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th century, with its tragic loss highlighting the need for continued exploration and documentation of shipwrecks in 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.
WRECK SUMMARY
- Type: Schooner (presumed two-masted)
- Length: Not specified
- Loss of Life: 5
- Location: Lake Michigan
- GPS: Not recorded
- Depth: Initially shallow enough for spars to remain above water
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
- Vessel Name: Monitor
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Built: 1862
- Flag/Registry: United States
- Date of Loss: September 25, 1898
- Final Resting Place: Lake Michigan
- Casualties: 5 lives lost
- Observed Post-Sinking: On September 26, the vessel was seen with two spars still above the waterline
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Monitor was likely a two-masted wooden schooner, typical of vessels built for Great Lakes freight service in the 1860s. These schooners were workhorses, hauling grain, lumber, coal, and stone between Lake Michigan ports.
HISTORY
On September 25, 1898, the Monitor foundered suddenly under still-unclear conditions. The wreck resulted in the loss of five lives. The next day, the ship was observed with two spars visible above water, suggesting that the vessel either sank in shallow water or remained temporarily buoyant while partially submerged.
No recovery was documented at the time, and the event was recorded as a total loss.
FINAL DISPOSITION
Sank in Lake Michigan. Two spars visible post-wreck suggest a shallow or semi-submerged wreck site. Current location is not confirmed in public wreck registries and may remain undocumented.
REFERENCES & LINKS
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
- Bowling Green State University – Great Lakes Ships
- GreatLakesShips.org