Montezuma US 16397

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: MONTEZUMA
• Type: Brigantine
• Year Built: 1847
• Builder: J. DePuty
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 284 63/95 tons
• Location: Above Port Stanley, Ontario
• Coordinates: Not confirmed
• Official Number: 16397
• Original Owners: Various including D.R. Holt, Holt & Co., Eldridge & Balcom, John Owen et al, John Anderson
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

MONTEZUMA was a wood-hulled brigantine, a common Great Lakes rig combining square sails on the foremast with fore-and-aft sails on the mainmast, making it suitable for coastal and lake shipping of grain, lumber, and other bulk cargoes in the mid-19th century.

Description

The MONTEZUMA was first enrolled at Chicago in 1848. She was among the early large-rig brigs working between Lake Michigan and Lake Erie ports, regularly carrying grain eastbound and lumber westbound. The brigantine suffered repeated mishaps over its career, reflecting the hazards of early Great Lakes shipping:

• 1848, July 18: Arrived Buffalo from Michigan City with grain on her first commercial trip.
• 1848, November: Aground at Elk Island, St. Clair River.
• 1851, May 2: Collided with the steamer EMPIRE, losing bowsprit and fore rigging.
• 1851, May 11: Sunk in a collision with propeller LADY OF THE LAKE near Malden, Ontario.
• 1853: Owned by D.R. Holt.
• 1856, September: Aground at the Manitou Islands, Lake Michigan.
• 1860: Owned by Holt & Co., Chicago.
• 1861, May 11: Sunk by collision with schooner LADY FRANKLIN near Chicago.
• 1861: Rebuilt for continued service, owned by Eldridge & Balcom, Chicago.
• 1862: Owned by John Owen et al, Detroit.
• 1862, October 7: Damaged at Point Pelee, Lake Erie.
• 1865: Re-measured at 226.61 gross tons.
• 1868: Owned by John Anderson.
• 1869, May: Aground near Peche Island, Detroit River.
• 1871, April: Ashore 9 miles north of Two Rivers, lumber-laden from Menominee.
• 1872, September 24: Driven ashore above Port Stanley, Ontario during a storm and wrecked beyond recovery.

History

By September 1872, MONTEZUMA was carrying lumber when she was caught in a gale on Lake Erie, driven ashore, and destroyed near Port Stanley. The captain’s wife tragically drowned, while the vessel was broken up by heavy seas.

Significant Incidents

• 1848: First commercial trip to Buffalo with grain.
• 1848: Aground at Elk Island.
• 1851: Collision with EMPIRE.
• 1851: Sunk in collision with LADY OF THE LAKE.
• 1856: Aground at Manitou Islands.
• 1861: Sunk by collision with LADY FRANKLIN.
• 1871: Ashore lumber-laden from Menominee.
• 1872: Driven ashore during storm.

Final Disposition

The MONTEZUMA was wrecked on September 24, 1872, after being driven ashore in a storm. The vessel was broken up by heavy seas, and the captain’s wife drowned during the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Unknown; presumed heavily broken up and scattered, typical of wood schooner wrecks from this era.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”montezuma-us-16397″ title=”References & Links”]

The MONTEZUMA’s long and accident-prone career reflects the dangers faced by 19th-century Great Lakes brigantines working the grain and lumber trades. Its loss off Port Stanley ended a quarter-century of service during a time when the lakes were essential trade routes.