Samuel H. Foster – Lake Superior Schooner Shipwreck (1906)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Samuel H. Foster
• Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1873
• Builder: Lewis Lafrinier, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length: 189.2 ft (57.7 m); Beam: 33.58 ft (10.2 m); Depth of hold: 13 ft (4.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 720.42 tons
• Location: Misery Bay, near 14 Mile Point, Lake Superior
• Coordinates: Misery Bay, near 14 Mile Point, Lake Superior
• Official Number: 115150
• Original Owners: Foster & Arnold, Rittenhouse & Embree Lumber Co., Calbick & Co.
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Samuel H. Foster was a three-masted wooden schooner designed for bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes.

Description

Constructed in 1873, the Samuel H. Foster was primarily used for transporting grain and iron ore. With a length of 189.2 feet and a gross tonnage of 720.42 tons, she was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes shipping industry.

History

The Samuel H. Foster was enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 19, 1873. Throughout her operational history, she carried various cargoes including grain from Buffalo, Duluth, and Chicago, as well as iron ore for the steel industry in Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. By the late 19th century, she was frequently towed by steam-powered freighters.

Significant Incidents

• Fire Damage (1877): Sustained minor fire damage in the Straits of Mackinac, requiring repairs.
• Collision with Propeller James Fisk (1878): Collided with the steam propeller James Fisk near Thunder Bay Island, sustaining damage but remaining in service.
• Sinking of Schooner Sunnyside (1883): Collided with the schooner Sunnyside near North Fox Island, causing the Sunnyside to sink.
• Grain Transport (1884): Towed by the steambarge William Edwards carrying a massive grain shipment of 242,000 bushels from Buffalo, New York.
• Aground with Pig Iron Cargo (1897): Ran aground near Germania Park, Niagara River, while carrying pig iron but was successfully released and repaired.
• To Atlantic Coast (1898): Unusual for Great Lakes schooners, the Foster was sent on a voyage to the Atlantic Coast.
• Ownership Changes (1899–1903): Purchased by Rittenhouse & Embree Lumber Co. in 1899 and owned by Calbick & Co. in 1903.

Final Disposition

The Samuel H. Foster was lost on October 9, 1906, during a storm while in tow behind the steamer L.L. Barth near Misery Bay, Lake Superior. The vessel was declared a total loss, but all seven crew members survived.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is uncertain, as no confirmed modern dive surveys have documented the site. The wooden hull likely deteriorated over time, but remnants such as iron hardware and anchors may still be present on the lakebed.

Resources & Links

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The Samuel H. Foster remains a significant part of Great Lakes maritime history, representing the era of large wooden sailing vessels. Her loss adds to the legacy of shipwrecks in Lake Superior, a body of water known for its treacherous storms.