Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Moses Gage
- Type: Two-masted wooden cargo schooner
- Year Built: 1886
- Builder: Michigan
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Michigan City, Indiana
- Official Number: 50563
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Moses Gage was a two-masted wooden cargo schooner primarily employed in the lumber trade on Lake Michigan.
Description
Built in 1886, the Moses Gage was designed for transporting lumber. The vessel was lost during a severe storm on May 18, 1894, when it became stranded and subsequently destroyed by wave action.
History
The Moses Gage was engaged in the lumber trade, a common industry in the Great Lakes region during the late 19th century. Its final voyage occurred in May 1894, carrying a typical spring seasonal freight of lumber.
Significant Incidents
- Last Voyage Date: 18 May 1894
- Cargo: Lumber
- Cause of Loss: Caught in a gale while navigating Lake Michigan, the vessel stranded near Michigan City and was pounded to pieces onshore.
- Casualties: No loss of life recorded; crew survived and reached shore, where they were rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service.
Final Disposition
The Moses Gage was declared a total loss, with the wreck destroyed by wave action and subsequent breakup on rocks and sand shoals. No salvage of the hull was reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Moses Gage is not known to have been salvaged or rediscovered, and its current condition remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”moses-gage-us-50563″ title=”References & Links”]
The Moses Gage, a Michigan-built schooner, met its end on May 18, 1894, during a spring gale. Stripped of steering and lost to wind-driven waves, it grounded near Michigan City while laden with lumber. Fortunately, all crew survived, rescued from floating debris by the U.S. Lifesaving Service. The ship was completely lost, with no known salvage or archaeological rediscovery to date.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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