Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: P.J. Ferris
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: Cameron, Irving, New York
- Dimensions: Unknown; ~133 tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~133 tons
- Location: Near Muskegon, Michigan
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 20138
- Original Owners: Seymour Bennett of Buffalo
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
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.
Description
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.
History
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.
Significant Incidents
- Stranding Incident: Two weeks prior to her loss, the P.J. Ferris stranded near Whitehall, Michigan.
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.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Condition: Completely destroyed by surf action in 1869.
Accessibility: No known remains; presumed lost.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”p-j-ferris-us-20138″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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