Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ormsby
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: likely Great Lakes
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location:
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Overview
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Built: 1871 (likely Great Lakes)
- Trade: Known to operate in Michigan waters; captained by a Great Lakes master
Description
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date: October 15, 1876
- Incident: While at anchor, the crew had been living aboard during heavy weather conditions. The vessel went ashore—no fire or casualties have been mentioned in available sources.
- Casualties: None reported; crew remained onboard during the weather event
History
Aftermath & Fate
- Due to grounding and storm damage, Ormsby was likely declared a total loss or required major salvage/removal.
- No follow-up records (e.g., salvage attempts, scuttling, or refloating) have been conclusively located.
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Ormsby signals the risk faced by early propeller steamers in heavy weather, especially when choosing to anchor near shore.
- The lack of injury or fatalities suggests effective crew procedures, though the loss demonstrates the limitations in storm preparedness protocols of the era.
- As a lesser-known wreck, Ormsby presents an opportunity to study obscure steam-driven workboats from the 1870s—vessels often overlooked in favor of larger freighters.
Significant Incidents
Key Research & Investigation Paths
| Focus Area | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Build & Registry Records | Access enrollment logs circa 1871 under “Ormsby” to determine tonnage, ownership, and home port details. |
| Newspaper Archives | Examine Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, Saginaw Courier, and Michigan coastal newspapers (Oct 1876) for grounding or crew shelter stories. |
| Lifeboat/Rescue Logs | Retrieve U.S. Lifesaving Service station records relevant to the anchorage area for reports on Ormsby. |
| Salvage or Marine Notice | Check harbor or government bulletins for salvage notices involving the grounded vessel. |
| Wreck Site Survey | If grounding location is identified, conduct underwater remote sensing to assess possible remains for study and documentation. |
Final Disposition
Summary
- Name: Ormsby
- Built: 1871 (wooden propeller steamer)
- Loss: October 15, 1876 — grounded in heavy weather; no fire or casualties
- Crew: Safe; no lives lost
- Remainder: Assumed total loss; no known salvage
- Research Value: Example of mid-19th-century work-steamer wreck; underdocumented and ripe for discovery
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ormsby-1871″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
Propeller Steamer Ormsby (U.S. registry, built 1871 – lost October 15, 1876)
Vessel Overview
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Built: 1871 (likely Great Lakes)
- Trade: Known to operate in Michigan waters; captained by a Great Lakes master
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date: October 15, 1876
- Incident: While at anchor, the crew had been living aboard during heavy weather conditions. The vessel went ashore—no fire or casualties have been mentioned in available sources.
- Casualties: None reported; crew remained onboard during the weather event
Aftermath & Fate
- Due to grounding and storm damage, Ormsby was likely declared a total loss or required major salvage/removal.
- No follow-up records (e.g., salvage attempts, scuttling, or refloating) have been conclusively located.
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Ormsby signals the risk faced by early propeller steamers in heavy weather, especially when choosing to anchor near shore.
- The lack of injury or fatalities suggests effective crew procedures, though the loss demonstrates the limitations in storm preparedness protocols of the era.
- As a lesser-known wreck, Ormsby presents an opportunity to study obscure steam-driven workboats from the 1870s—vessels often overlooked in favor of larger freighters.
Key Research & Investigation Paths
| Focus Area | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Build & Registry Records | Access enrollment logs circa 1871 under “Ormsby” to determine tonnage, ownership, and home port details. |
| Newspaper Archives | Examine Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, Saginaw Courier, and Michigan coastal newspapers (Oct 1876) for grounding or crew shelter stories. |
| Lifeboat/Rescue Logs | Retrieve U.S. Lifesaving Service station records relevant to the anchorage area for reports on Ormsby. |
| Salvage or Marine Notice | Check harbor or government bulletins for salvage notices involving the grounded vessel. |
| Wreck Site Survey | If grounding location is identified, conduct underwater remote sensing to assess possible remains for study and documentation. |
Summary
- Name: Ormsby
- Built: 1871 (wooden propeller steamer)
- Loss: October 15, 1876 — grounded in heavy weather; no fire or casualties
- Crew: Safe; no lives lost
- Remainder: Assumed total loss; no known salvage
- Research Value: Example of mid-19th-century work-steamer wreck; underdocumented and ripe for discovery