Shotline Diving

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O. Shaw US 19332

Explore the remains of the O. Shaw, a wooden schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in 1904 while carrying sawdust.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: O. Shaw
  • Type: Single-deck wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: O. Shaw
  • Dimensions: 67 ft (20.42 m) × 16.5 ft; Depth of hold: 5.3 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 41 gross; 39 net
  • Location: Off Calumet, Illinois
  • Official Number: 19332
  • Original Owners: Swales & Smith, South Haven

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Official Number: 19332
Vessel Type: Single-deck wooden schooner
Builder: O. Shaw
Master Carpenter: Joseph F. Smith
Original Owner: Swales & Smith, South Haven
Dimensions: 67 ft length × 16.5 ft beam × 5.3 ft depth
Tonnage: 41 gross; 39 net

Description

The O. Shaw was a wooden schooner built in South Haven, Michigan. It was originally constructed in 1870 and underwent a rebuild in 1880. The vessel was primarily used for transporting cargo, including sawdust at the time of its sinking.

History

The operational history of the O. Shaw includes several ownership changes and incidents. In 1876, it was owned by J. Snell of South Haven, registered at 59 gross tons. By 1879, it remained under J.A. Snell’s ownership, now recorded at 41 gross tons. The vessel was rebuilt in 1880, but faced challenges, including capsizing and abandonment off Grand Haven, Michigan, in 1882. It was salvaged or repaired after this incident. The O. Shaw sank on August 9, 1904, off Calumet, Illinois, while carrying sawdust, under circumstances that remain unclear.

Significant Incidents

  • 1876: Owned by J. Snell of South Haven (registered at 59 gross tons).
  • 1879: Remains under J.A. Snell’s ownership in South Haven (41 gross tons).
  • 1880: Rebuilt (details unspecified).
  • 1882: Capsized and abandoned off Grand Haven, Michigan; later salvaged or repaired.
  • August 9, 1904: Sank off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan while carrying sawdust.
  • Note: Some records also associate her with South Chicago as a port.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 9 August 1904
  • Location: Off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Sawdust
  • Cause: Sank under unknown circumstances; specific details not found in available sources.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Wreck Status: Sunk offshore; no structural condition data available.
  • Dive Potential: Site location undefined; may be deep-water and uncharted.
  • Modern Survey: No known surveys or dive explorations recorded.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”o-shaw-us-19332″ title=”References & Links”]

The O. Shaw was a South Haven-built schooner, active from 1870, rebuilt in 1880, and capsized once in 1882. Her service ended on 9 August 1904 when she sank off Calumet, Illinois, while carrying sawdust. Details surrounding the accident remain elusive. I recommend consulting contemporary newspapers, harbor logs, and underwriters’ records to uncover eyewitness details, causes, crew lists, cargo manifests, and potential salvage actions.

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.

Official Number: 19332
Vessel Type: Single‑deck wooden schooner
Builder: O. Shaw
Master Carpenter: Joseph F. Smith
Original Owner: Swales & Smith, South Haven
Dimensions: 67 ft length × 16.5 ft beam × 5.3 ft depth
Tonnage: 41 gross; 39 net

Chronology & Operational History

  • 1876: Owned by J. Snell of South Haven (registered at 59 gross tons).
  • 1879: Remains under J.A. Snell’s ownership in South Haven (41 gross tons).
  • 1880: Rebuilt (details unspecified).
  • 1882: Capsized and abandoned off Grand Haven, Michigan; later salvaged or repaired.
  • August 9, 1904: Sank off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan while carrying sawdust.
  • Note: Some records also associate her with South Chicago as a port.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 9 August 1904
  • Location: Off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Sawdust
  • Cause: Sank under unknown circumstances; specific details not found in available sources.

Wreck & Dive Notes

  • Wreck Status: Sunk offshore; no structural condition data available.
  • Dive Potential: Site location undefined; may be deep-water and uncharted.
  • Modern Survey: No known surveys or dive explorations recorded.

Research Recommendations

  1. Newspaper Archives (1904):
    • Chicago Tribune, Calumet & Hegewisch publications, Lake County (IN) and Cook County (IL) newspapers for wreck notices or eyewitness accounts.
  2. Local Port Records:
    • Calumet Harbor master logs or Coast Guard incident reports from early August 1904.
  3. Ownership & Insurance Files:
    • Swales & Smith correspondence in South Haven archives; Board of Lake Underwriters or similar maritime insurer records.
  4. Maritime Databases & Directories:
    • Steamboat and schooner directories 1900–1904 may note final registry and vessel fate.
  5. Historical Societies:
    • Calumet Area Historical Society or Illinois State Archives may retain crew lists, salvage records, or site maps.

Sources Cited

Summary

The SHAW, O. was a South Haven-built schooner, active from 1870, rebuilt in 1880, and capsized once in 1882. Her service ended on 9 August 1904 when she sank off Calumet, Illinois, while carrying sawdust. Details surrounding the accident remain elusive. I recommend consulting contemporary newspapers, harbor logs, and underwriters’ records to uncover eyewitness details, causes, crew lists, cargo manifests, and potential salvage actions.

o-shaw-us-19332 1904-08-09 15:59:00