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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Vessel Type & Role

The P.J. Ferris was a scow-schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel adapted for bulk cargo like lumber, lath, and other building materials. These schooners operated in shallower harbors where deeper-drafted vessels could not. Their simple rig and reliance on sail made them economical but highly vulnerable to sudden weather shifts.

History

Built in 1861 at Cameron, Irving, New York, and owned by Seymour Bennett of Buffalo, the P.J. Ferris was typical of the utilitarian schooners that supplied the growing Midwest. She operated between Michigan ports and Chicago, often carrying building materials crucial for urban growth.

Two weeks before her loss, she stranded near Whitehall, Michigan, foreshadowing handling difficulties that would later prove fatal. Despite this, she resumed service until her final voyage in October 1869.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 4, 1869, bound from Whitehall to Chicago with lumber and lath, the P.J. Ferris encountered a fierce autumn gale on Lake Michigan. Driven ashore near Muskegon, she was quickly battered to pieces by storm surf. Her crew escaped without fatalities, either reaching shore or being aided locally. No salvageable remains were reported.

Final Disposition

The vessel was a total loss, destroyed on the beach near Muskegon. Records indicate no lives lost, and no insurance or salvage reports survive in readily available archives.

Located By & Date Found

Not located. No surveys or recovery attempts are documented.

Notmars & Advisories

None noted. No modern hazards associated with this wreck.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Condition: Completely destroyed by surf action in 1869.
Accessibility: No known remains; presumed lost.

Historical Context

The loss of the P.J. Ferris underscores the vulnerability of scow-schooners in autumn storms. Without auxiliary power, these vessels relied entirely on sail and favorable weather, making them especially prone to disaster when driven close to lee shores.

Gaps & Archival Recommendations

• Crew roster & rescue account: Whitehall and Muskegon newspapers (Sept–Oct 1869)
• Port records: Whitehall, Muskegon, Chicago arrivals and clearances
• Salvage or valuation reports: Insurance archives (Buffalo underwriters)
• Lifesaving service details: U.S. Life-Saving Service Muskegon station logs

Conclusion

The P.J. Ferris was lost in October 1869 when storm winds forced her onto the Muskegon shoreline. Though no lives were lost, her loss was total, erasing a vessel that had only recently been stranded near Whitehall. Her story illustrates the risks of late-season schooner trade on the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database – BGSU
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Mental Floss (Great Lakes shipwreck articles)

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card