Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Steven S. Bates
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: Bates & Son shipyard, Manitowoc, WI
- Dimensions: 97 ft (29.6 m) L × 27 ft beam × 7 ft depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 139 ton
- Depth at Wreck Site: 12 m / 40 ft
- Location: ~5 mi north of Grosse Point, IL
- Official Number: 23341
- Original Owners: Capt. William Bates
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Wooden schooner (“clipper built”)
- Purpose: Coastal bulk cargo transport (posts and hardware)
Description
- A two-masted, wood-built schooner typical of mid-19th Century lake trade. Referred to as “clipper built,” denoting a sleek hull designed for improved speed under sail.
History
- Built in 1856 by the renowned Bates & Son yard in Manitowoc—operated by the Bates family, known across regional Great Lakes shipbuilding.
- Underwent major repairs around 1870, extending her service.
- Ownership: Out of Chicago at time of loss; owned by Capt. William Bates and mastered by Capt. Frank Walsh.
- Operations: Primarily carried hardware and posts—bulk cargo—between coastal ports.
Significant Incidents
- Final Voyage & Loss: Bound from Muskegon, MI and Horne’s Pier, WI, to Chicago. During a storm/fog on April 23, 1883, about 5 miles north of Grosse Point, IL, she dragged anchor, was driven into the shallows, and battered to pieces by waves. All six aboard survived, rescued by Evanston U.S. Lifesaving Service.
Final Disposition
- Date of loss: April 23, 1883
- Location: ~5 mi north of Grosse Point, IL (near Evanston)
- Weather: Storm with intermittent fog; anchored in shallows but broke free, was driven ashore, and destroyed by wave action.
- Casualties: None of the six crew aboard perished. All were rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service from Evanston.
- Cargo: Posts and hardware; presumably lost with the wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No record exists of a subsequent discovery or survey. Wreck likely subsequently broken up or buried in nearshore substrate.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”steven-s-bates-us-23341″ title=”References & Links”]
The Steven S. Bates represents a well-documented example of a small-scale schooner lost in spring Great Lakes storms. Its survival story reflects the effectiveness of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. As the wreck remains undiscovered, it presents a valuable nearshore dive opportunity. Confirming location via archival logs and targeted sonar survey could yield a historically significant shallow-water site.
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.
Schooner Steven S. Bates lost on April 23, 1883:
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel names/aliases: also seen as Stephen Bates, S. Bates, or Steven Bates
- Official Number: 23341 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Built: 1856 by Bates & Son shipyard, Manitowoc, WI (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Dimensions: 97 ft L × 27 ft beam × 7 ft depth; 139 ton register (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Final Voyage & Loss: Bound from Muskegon, MI and Horne’s Pier, WI, to Chicago. During a storm/fog on April 23, 1883, about 5 miles north of Grosse Point, IL, she dragged anchor, was driven into the shallows, and battered to pieces by waves. All six aboard survived, rescued by Evanston U.S. Lifesaving Service (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Vessel Type
- Type: Wooden schooner (“clipper built”)
- Purpose: Coastal bulk cargo transport (posts and hardware)
Description
- A two-masted, wood‑built schooner typical of mid‑19th Century lake trade. Referred to as “clipper built,” denoting a sleek hull designed for improved speed under sail.
History
- Built in 1856 by the renowned Bates & Son yard in Manitowoc—operated by the Bates family, known across regional Great Lakes shipbuilding (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
- Underwent major repairs around 1870, extending her service (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Ownership: Out of Chicago at time of loss; owned by Capt. William Bates and mastered by Capt. Frank Walsh (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Operations: Primarily carried hardware and posts—bulk cargo—between coastal ports.
Final Disposition
- Date of loss: April 23, 1883
- Location: ~5 mi north of Grosse Point, IL (near Evanston) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Weather: Storm with intermittent fog; anchored in shallows but broke free, was driven ashore, and destroyed by wave action.
- Casualties: None of the six crew aboard perished. All were rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service from Evanston (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Cargo: Posts and hardware; presumably lost with the wreck.
Located By & Date Found
- No record exists of a subsequent discovery or survey. Wreck likely subsequesnly broken up or buried in nearshore substrate.
Notices & Advisories
- No official NOAA Notices to Mariners or similar hazard bulletins found.
Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps
- Precise Wreck Location
- Approximate grounding site known; side-scan sonar or magnetometer survey north of Evanston pier could detect remnants.
- Archival Research
- U.S. Lifesaving Service logs (Evanston station, 1883) may include precise distress times, coordination, and crew statements.
- Chicago, Evanston, and Muskegon newspapers (April–May 1883) may contain eyewitness reports or salvage notices.
- Marine insurance records in Chicago archives might hold hull-loss claims.
- Permits & Dive Access
- Likely within Illinois nearshore jurisdiction—contact IL DNR & NOAA historic preservation office for permit strategies.
- Oral Histories
- Local historical societies in Evanston and Chicago may hold anecdotal records or marine logs (e.g., from lighthouse keepers).
Shore‑Dive Information (Tentative)
- Entry: Public boat ramp at Evanston or Wilmette
- Depth: Probably within 6–12 m (20–40 ft), due to grounding and wave destruction
- Hazards: Broken timbers, shifting sands, boat traffic
- Emergency contacts:
- U.S. Coast Guard Station Chicago — 911 or 847‑283‑5240
- Illinois DNR Law Enforcement — 815‑675‑2105
Conclusion
The Steven S. Bates represents a well-documented example of a small‑scale schooner lost in spring Great Lakes storms. Its survival story reflects the effectiveness of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. As the wreck remains undiscovered, it presents a valuable nearshore dive opportunity. Confirming location via archival logs and targeted sonar survey could yield a historically significant shallow-water site.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Region: Lake Michigan, Illinois coast
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner, clipper-built
- Cargo/Cause of Loss: Posts & hardware; storm/fog, anchor drag
- Period: 1883
- Crew: 6 (survived)
- Hazards: Nearshore grounding, debris field