Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Perry
- Type: Wooden brig (two-masted sailing vessel)
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Bidwell in Rochester, New York
- Dimensions: 72 ft (21.95 m) × 12 ft (3.66 m) × 5 ft (1.52 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 42 GRT / 37 NRT
- Location: Cape Hurd, Georgian Bay
- Official Number: 10844
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Perry is classified as a wooden brig, a two-masted sailing vessel that was common in the 19th century for cargo transport.
Description
Built in 1867 by Bidwell in Rochester, New York, the Perry measured 72 feet in length, 12 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 5 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 42 gross tons and 37 net tons.
History
The Perry served as a cargo vessel during a time when traditional sail-powered ships were transitioning to steam power. Its grounding on Cape Hurd during a severe gale on September 10, 1875, highlights the challenges faced by mariners in the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- On September 10, 1875, a severe gale struck Lake Huron, wrecking multiple vessels including the steamboats Mendota and Equinox.
- During this same storm, Perry was driven ashore on Cape Hurd, sustaining such damage that she was declared a total loss. Her official enrollment was surrendered in Port Huron on January 28, 1876.
- No loss of life was reported; the crew made it to safety via lifeboats or shore.
Final Disposition
After the storm, the Perry was declared a total loss. The official enrollment was surrendered in early 1876, marking the end of its service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is likely located in the shallows around Cape Hurd in Georgian Bay, possibly in 10 to 30 feet of water or on the shore. Expected remains include fragments of the hull, fasteners, rigging hardware, and possible cargo debris.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”perry-us-10844″ title=”References & Links”]
The Perry’s wreck serves as a reminder of the maritime history of the Great Lakes and the dangers posed by sudden storms, particularly for sailing vessels of its time.
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
- Name: Perry
- Built: 1867, by Bidwell in Rochester, New York
- Official Number: 10844
- Type: Wooden brig (two-masted sailing vessel)
- Dimensions: 72 ft (L) × 12 ft (B) × 5 ft (D), 42 GRT / 37 NRT
- Final Voyage: Caught in a violent gale on Lake Huron
- Loss Location: Stranded on Cape Hurd in Georgian Bay
- Crew Casualties: None reported—all survived
- Cargo: Light or unspecified (no cargo listed)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, US Deadly Events)
Incident & Final Disposition
- On September 10, 1875, a severe gale struck Lake Huron, wrecking multiple vessels including the steamboats Mendota and Equinox.
- During this same storm, Perry was driven ashore on Cape Hurd, sustaining such damage that she was declared a total loss. Her official enrollment was surrendered in Port Huron on January 28, 1876.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) - Though heavy seas and wind caused wreckage, no loss of life was reported. Crew made it to safety via lifeboats or shore.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical & Navigational Significance
- The simultaneous wrecking of Perry, Mendota, and Equinox underscores the severity of the storm that swept across the Great Lakes that day.
(cadl.org) - As a brig built in 1867, Perry represented the persistence of traditional sail-powered cargo vessels during the late 19th century’s maritime transition to steam.
- Perry‘s grounding on Cape Hurd exemplifies the peril posed by sudden storms in exposed areas, even for relatively small sailing ships.
Archival & Research Gaps
To develop a richer profile, the following information should be pursued:
- Crew & Command Records – Names, roles, and rescue details via Port Huron or Georgian Bay enrollment logs.
- Voyage & Cargo Manifests – Departure ports and contents, possibly in customs or shipping registries.
- Weather Data – Meteorological data for early September 1875 to characterize wind and wave conditions.
- Period Press Coverage – Newspapers such as the Tobermory Gazette, Georgian Bay Times, or Port Huron Times for survivor descriptions or salvage operations.
- Salvage Documentation – Harbor commission or insurance records detailing recovery of materials or cargo.
Wreck & Site Investigation Potential
- Likely Site: Shallows around Cape Hurd in Georgian Bay—possibly in 10–30 ft of water or shore.
- Expected Remains: Fragments of hull, fasteners, rigging hardware, and possible cargo debris.
- Survey Plan:
- Overlay 19th-century nautical charts around Cape Hurd.
- Remote survey using side-scan sonar and magnetometer to identify structural remains.
- Shoreline and shallow dive examination for visible wreck fragments.
Next Steps
- Request enrollment logs and crew lists from the National Archives (Detroit or Chicago districts).
- Search September 1875 newspaper records from Georgian Bay and Lake Huron ports.
- Obtain weather logs for September 9–11, 1875.
- Plan a site reconnaissance with maritime archaeologists for remote sensing and shallow reconnaissance.