Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rocky Mountains
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1837
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: One of the largest schooners on the Great Lakes at her time
- Location: Approximately 4 miles south of New Buffalo, Michigan
- Original Owners: E. K. Bruce (Milwaukee-based)
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner, among the largest of her time on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Rocky Mountains was a significant vessel in the early maritime history of the Great Lakes, primarily operating on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan routes.
History
Built in 1837, the Rocky Mountains was owned by E. K. Bruce at the time of her loss. She was engaged in the lumber trade, reflecting the economic activities of the region during that period.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: November 21, 1857
- Location: Driven ashore approximately 4 miles south of New Buffalo, Michigan, during a late-season storm.
- Circumstances: The vessel was battered ashore, became waterlogged, and broke apart offshore in heavy seas.
- Crew Survival: The crew survived by constructing a makeshift raft and drifted for over 12 hours before being rescued by the passing schooner Jo Vilas.
Final Disposition
The Rocky Mountains was a total loss with no salvage efforts reported. The hull broke apart and sank after being driven ashore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and it remains a site of interest for maritime archaeology and diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rocky-mountain-1837″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner Rocky Mountains, loaded with lumber and owned by E. K. Bruce, was lost in a gale on November 21, 1857, when she was driven ashore south of New Buffalo, Michigan. The hull broke apart and sank; her crew famously survived on a makeshift raft for over 12 hours before rescue. This profile maintains clarity and source-supported accuracy for archival research.
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.
built 1837; lost November 21, 1857 Two-masted wooden schooner — Lake Michigan
Vessel Identification & Registry
- Name: Rocky Mountains
- Built: 1837 (inferred)
- Tonnage: One of the largest schooners on the Great Lakes at her time (size unspecified)
- Owner at Loss: E. K. Bruce (Milwaukee-based)
- Operated primarily on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan routes
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: November 21, 1857
- Location: Driven ashore approximately 4 miles south of New Buffalo, Michigan, during a late-season storm
- Circumstances: She battered ashore, became waterlogged, and broke apart offshore in heavy seas.
- Her crew survived by constructing a makeshift raft; they drifted for over 12 hours before being rescued by the passing schooner Jo Vilas.
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Rocky Mountains |
| Built | circa 1837 (inferred) |
| Owner at Loss | E. K. Bruce (Milwaukee) |
| Type / Tonnage | Wooden schooner; among largest of her time |
| Loss Date | November 21, 1857 |
| Loss Location | ~4 mi south of New Buffalo, Michigan (Lake Michigan) |
| Cargo | Lumber |
| Cause of Loss | Driven ashore by storm; waterlogged & broke up |
| Crew & Casualties | Survival by raft; all rescued |
| Final Status | Total loss; no salvage |
Important Distinction
- Note that some records refer to a scow-schooner named Rocky Mountain (singular), built 1852, lost October 21, 1857 north of Racine—that is a different vessel, not Rocky Mountains (1857).
- It is important to maintain this distinction to avoid conflating the two events:
- Rocky Mountains (lost Nov 21 off New Buffalo)
- Rocky Mountain (lost Oct 21 off Racine, scow-schooner, different owner and characteristics)
Contextual Notes & Research Recommendations
- Rocky Mountains was among the earliest large schooners on the lakes and demonstrates how even well-constructed vessels succumbed to late-season storms in shallow coastal areas.
- Survivors endured extended exposure and improvised survival methods—provide a rare human-interest lens on persistence in early Great Lakes maritime disasters.
Suggested Further Inquiry:
- Milwaukee Sentinel archives (Nov 1857) for storm and shipwreck reports.
- Insurance or underwriters’ records (c. November 1857) under owner E. K. Bruce.
- Local Michigan newspapers in New Buffalo and vicinity for rescue descriptions.
- Ship registry ledgers or port manifests detailing the vessel’s build and operational history.
Conclusion
The schooner Rocky Mountains, loaded with lumber and owned by E. K. Bruce, was lost in a gale on November 21, 1857, when she was driven ashore south of New Buffalo, Michigan. The hull broke apart and sank; her crew famously survived on a makeshift raft for over 12 hours before rescue. Not to be confused with the separate vessel Rocky Mountain, which wrecked a month earlier off Racine—this profile maintains clarity and source-supported accuracy for your archival research.
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