Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Seventh Ohio
- Type: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: H. Kelly in Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: 99 ft × 24 ft × 8 ft (depth)
- Registered Tonnage: Approximately 130 tons
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 23054
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
Description
Final Voyage & Loss – 4 November 1877, Chicago Harbor
- Incident Date: 4 November 1877
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Weather Conditions: Severe storm and high winds
- Event: The Seventh Ohio was carrying lumber when, amidst the gale, she collided with another schooner, Glad Tidings. Both vessels suffered serious damage.
- Aftermath: Seventh Ohio drifted onto the breakwater near 18th Street, pounded to pieces, and was declared a total loss. Glad Tidings was seriously damaged but managed to be rescued by a tug.
- Casualties: No fatalities or injuries reported.
History
Specifications & Registrations
- Official Number: 23054
- Built: 1864 by H. Kelly in Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: 99 ft × 24 ft × 8 ft (depth)
- Tonnage: Approximately 130 tons
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Lumber
Significant Incidents
Significance & Context
- The wreck exemplifies the heightened danger of navigating Chicago Harbor during sudden November storms, especially among wooden lumber schooners.
- The involvement of Glad Tidings and the use of tug assistance illustrate the collaborative salvage efforts typical after such maritime accidents.
Final Disposition
Archival References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry “38 PM G” — provides incident summary and loss details.
- U.S. War Department’s 1877 Shipping Report — logs entry for 4 Nov noting collisions involving Glad Tidings.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Research & Follow-Up Opportunities
- Newspaper Archive Investigation — Examine the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily News, and Great Lakes maritime journals published in early November 1877 for eye-witness accounts and post-incident reports.
- Harbor & Salvage Records — Search the records of Chicago harbor master and tug companies for details on salvage contracts, cleanup operations, and damage assessments.
- Underwater Archaeology — While the Seventh Ohio was smashed on the breakwater and thought removed or buried, nearshore debris may still exist in Lake Michigan sediments.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”seventh-ohio-us-23054″ title=”References & Links”]
The Seventh Ohio, a mid-19th-century lumber schooner built in 1864, was lost on 4 November 1877 during a violent storm in Chicago Harbor. Following a collision with the Glad Tidings, she was driven onto a breakwater and destroyed. Fortunately, all crew survived. The event underscores the navigational hazards of late-season storms and the structural vulnerabilities of wooden schooners.
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 Two-Masted Schooner
Final Voyage & Loss – 4 November 1877, Chicago Harbor
- Incident Date: 4 November 1877
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Weather Conditions: Severe storm and high winds
- Event: The Seventh Ohio was carrying lumber when, amidst the gale, she collided with another schooner, Glad Tidings. Both vessels suffered serious damage (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, capturingconneauthistory.com, us-data.org).
- Aftermath:
- Seventh Ohio drifted onto the breakwater near 18th Street, pounded to pieces, and was declared a total loss.
- Glad Tidings was seriously damaged but managed to be rescued by a tug (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Casualties: No fatalities or injuries reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Specifications & Registrations
- Official Number: 23054
- Built: 1864 by H. Kelly in Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: 99 ft × 24 ft × 8 ft (depth)
- Tonnage: Approximately 130 tons
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Lumber (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com)
Significance & Context
- The wreck exemplifies the heightened danger of navigating Chicago Harbor during sudden November storms, especially among wooden lumber schooners.
- The involvement of Glad Tidings and the use of tug assistance illustrate the collaborative salvage efforts typical after such maritime accidents.
Archival References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry “38 PM G” — provides incident summary and loss details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- U.S. War Department’s 1877 Shipping Report — logs entry for 4 Nov noting collisions involving Glad Tidings (us-data.org)
Research & Follow-Up Opportunities
- Newspaper Archive Investigation
- Examine the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily News, and Great Lakes maritime journals published in early November 1877 for eye-witness accounts and post-incident reports.
- Harbor & Salvage Records
- Search the records of Chicago harbor master and tug companies for details on salvage contracts, cleanup operations, and damage assessments.
- Underwater Archaeology
- While the Seventh Ohio was smashed on the breakwater and thought removed or buried, nearshore debris may still exist in Lake Michigan sediments.
Summary
The Seventh Ohio, a mid-19th-century lumber schooner built in 1864, was lost on 4 November 1877 during a violent storm in Chicago Harbor. Following a collision with the Glad Tidings, she was driven onto a breakwater and destroyed. Fortunately, all crew survived. The event underscores the navigational hazards of late-season storms and the structural vulnerabilities of wooden schooners.
Would you like assistance sourcing newspaper articles from November 1877 or obtaining harbor salvage logs related to the breakup and cleanup of the Seventh Ohio?
seventh-ohio-us-23054 1877-11-04 21:57:00