Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Pilgrim US 150433

Explore the wreck of the Pilgrim, a wooden propeller schooner that struck ice in 1907, leading to its abandonment near Fort Gratiot.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Pilgrim
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven vessel
  • Year Built: 1888
  • Builder: R. Rogers, Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 119 ft (36.3 m) length × 23 ft beam × 9 ft depth; 300 GRT / 256 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 300 GRT / 256 NRT
  • Location: Near Fort Gratiot, Lake Huron
  • Official Number: 150433
  • Original Owners: C. W. Thompson of St. Clair, Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller-driven vessel used for passenger and package freight service.

Description

The Pilgrim was a wooden propeller schooner built in 1888, measuring 119 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 300 gross tons and 256 net tons.

History

The Pilgrim was constructed by R. Rogers in Saugatuck, Michigan, and was primarily used for transporting passengers and freight. At the time of its loss, it was owned by C. W. Thompson and captained by A. H. Cotton.

Significant Incidents

  • Date & Route: April 29, 1907 — early-season run from St. Clair toward Detroit.
  • Cargo & Passengers: Carrying six passengers and farm produce.
  • Incident: Struck an ice floe, which sprung a leak in her bottom. Crew diverted to beach her deliberately near Fort Gratiot to avoid sinking. High water levels caused her to be driven far up the beach, beyond salvage reach.
  • Casualties: None — all passengers and crew rescued safely by local vessels and fishing watermen.

Final Disposition

The Pilgrim was declared a total (constructive) loss. It was salvaged for gear, but the hull was abandoned and later broke up in place. After the incident, it was stripped of reusable equipment and left to gradually disintegrate on the beach.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Pilgrim is no longer intact, having broken up over time. The exact location of the wreck may be difficult to access due to its condition and the surrounding environment.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”pilgrim-us-150433″ title=”References & Links”]

The Pilgrim serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during the ice-laden months of early spring. Its story highlights the importance of safety and preparedness in maritime operations.

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.

(wooden propeller schooner, built 1888)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Pilgrim
  • Built: 1888 by R. Rogers, Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Official Number: 150433
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven vessel used for passenger and package freight service
  • Dimensions: 119 ft length × 23 ft beam × 9 ft depth; 300 GRT / 256 NRT
  • Owner at Loss: C. W. Thompson of St. Clair, Michigan
  • Master: Capt. A. H. Cotton

Final Incident – April 29, 1907 (Lake Huron)

  • Date & Route: April 29, 1907 — early-season run from St. Clair toward Detroit
  • Cargo & Passengers: Carrying six passengers and farm produce
  • Incident:
    • Struck an ice floe, which sprung a leak in her bottom
    • Crew diverted to beach her deliberately near Fort Gratiot to avoid sinking
    • High water levels caused her to be driven far up the beach, beyond salvage reach
  • Casualties: None — all passengers and crew rescued safely by local vessels and fishing watermen

Final Disposition

  • Declared a total (constructive) loss — salvaged for gear but hull was abandoned and later broke up in place
  • Post-loss: Stripped of reusable equipment, left to gradually disintegrate on the beach

Archival Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“P” series) provide full incident details, including vessel specs and circumstances of loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Archival Gaps & Research Avenues

  • Exact Beaching Location: Likely near Fort Gratiot (Port Huron outlet); precise coordinates may be obtainable via period Coast Guard or pilotage logs
  • Crew & Passenger Identities: Passenger manifests or survivor statements may be found in Port Huron Times, Detroit Free Press (May 1907)
  • Hull & Gear Salvage Records: Local marine salvagers or Thompson’s records may contain details of equipment recovery
  • Weather & Ice Reports: U.S. Weather Bureau or Great Lakes Ice Patrol logs could explain the buildup of drifting ice in late April 1907

Summary

The Pilgrim, a 300-gross-ton propeller schooner built in 1888, struck ice on April 29, 1907, in Lake Huron near Fort Gratiot. With six passengers and farm produce aboard, the crew beached her deliberately, but she was driven irretrievably up the shore and abandoned. There were no casualties. The hull remained in place, eventually breaking up. She was officially deemed a total loss.

Would you like me to track down Coast Guard beaching logs, retrieve passenger statements or weather data, or locate salvage and registry records related to this incident?

pilgrim-us-150433 1907-04-29 09:09:00