Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ogontz
- Type: Originally wooden side-wheel passenger/package-freight steamer; converted to wooden propeller barge
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: Ward Line, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: Likely retained from original registry (specific not identified)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally a wooden side-wheel passenger and package-freight steamer, the Ogontz was part of the Ward Line fleet, which included other notable vessels such as the Lady Elgin and Ontonagon. In 1862, it was converted into a wooden propeller barge.
Description
The Ogontz was built in 1848 in Buffalo, NY, and served primarily as a passenger and freight vessel across Lake Michigan. After its conversion in 1862, it was intended to transport cargoes such as fish and lumber.
History
The vessel underwent a significant conversion in 1862 in Detroit, MI, where it was reconfigured from a side-wheel steamer to a propeller-driven freight barge. This change reflected the evolving maritime technology of the time.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: November 1, 1862
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Struck the harbor bar in fog, leading to its wreck.
- Outcome: The vessel broke apart, with the crew surviving the incident.
- Cargo: Included fish and lumber; no loss of life reported.
Final Disposition
The wreck occurred inside Chicago Harbor, likely near the sand bar. The condition of the wreck is believed to be poor, with internal wreckage probably scattered and destroyed. There are no records of recovery, and it is likely that the remains were cleared as a navigational hazard during harbor maintenance operations.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Today, the remains of the Ogontz are unlikely to be intact or visible, as the wreckage has likely been removed or destroyed over time. The site may not be accessible for diving due to its condition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ogontz-1848″ title=”References & Links”]
The Ogontz serves as an illustrative example of mid-19th-century maritime practices, particularly the conversion of passenger steamers into barges as newer vessels emerged. It highlights the operational hazards present in crowded harbor environments, such as fog and shallow bars, which were significant risk factors for vessels of that era.
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.
Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Ogontz
- Also Known As: Former Ward Line steamer (side-wheeler), later converted to barge
- Built: 1848 at Buffalo, NY (Ward Line)
- Type: Originally wooden side-wheel passenger/package-freight steamer; converted in 1862 to wooden propeller barge
- Official Number: Likely retained from original registry (specific not identified)
Vessel Specifications (pre-conversion)
- Hull: Wooden
- Configuration: Single-deck side-wheeler
- Service Role: Passenger and package freight across Lake Michigan—part of Ward Line fleet including Lady Elgin, Ontonagon, Ogontz (turn0search0)
Conversion
- Date: 1862
- Location: Detroit, MI
- Change: Removed sidewheel propulsion; reconfigured into a propeller-driven freight barge
- Role After Refit: Intended to deliver cargoes such as fish, lumber, and other freight packages (turn0search10)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: November 1, 1862
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Cause: In fog, struck the harbor bar (sandbar/obstruction) and wrecked
- Outcome: Broke apart (“went to pieces”); crew survived
- Cargo: Included fish and lumber; no loss of life reported (turn0search10)
Wreck Site & Condition
- Site: Inside Chicago Harbor, likely near the sand bar
- Condition: Internal wreckage probably scattered and destroyed; remains unlikely to be intact or visible today
- Salvage Status: No records of recovery; likely cleared as navigational hazard in harbor maintenance operations
Historical Significance
- Illustrative example of mid-19th-century practice converting passenger steamers into barges as newer vessels emerged
- Highlights operational hazards within crowded harbor environments—fog and shallow bars—as prominent risk factors
- Serves as a transitional vessel in the shifting fleet composition on Lake Michigan
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1848, Buffalo, NY (Ward Line) |
| Type | Side-wheel passenger steamer → propeller freight barge |
| Converted | 1862, Detroit |
| Final Voyage | November 1, 1862 |
| Cause of Loss | Struck harbor bar in Chicago fog |
| Cargo | Fish & lumber |
| Casualties | None |
| Wreck Status | Wrecked and broken; removed as hazard |
Sources
- Chicago harbor wreck details: Ogontz “struck the bar in Chicago harbor and wrecked – went to pieces” after conversion to propeller barge (#) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, us-data.org, csmonitor.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, chicagology.com, linkstothepast.com)
- Ward Line service history, including presence among side-wheel steamers on Lake Michigan by 1856
Further Research Possibilities
- Period newspapers (Chicago Daily Tribune, Nov 1862): Likely contain accounts of the wreck and harbor dredging logs
- Port of Chicago records: Documents on harbor bar maintenance and wreck removal
- Ward Line archives: Enrollment and conversion certificates, possibly housed at maritime museums or state archives