Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Victory (Victor)
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1835
- Builder: L. Goler in Cape Vincent, New York
- Dimensions: Approximately 80 × 20 × 8 ft; ~117 tons (old measure)
- Registered Tonnage: Not documented
- Location: Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: No GPS location available
- Official Number: Not listed
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small coastal goods schooner, typical of early-19th-century lake commerce—built for transport of general freight and outfitted to navigate Great Lakes coastal routes.
Description
Victory set sail near the end of March 1844 when she encountered a violent spring gale on Lake Michigan. She was later discovered wrecked by the schooner Fur Trader, captained by Ripley. All aboard—either seven or eight—perished in the disaster, and no survivors were found.
History
The schooner was found wrecked, likely driven ashore or onto underwater shoals. With no survivors and no salvage efforts reported, she was deemed a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- The wreck was first identified by Fur Trader in late March 1844, but no GPS location or archaeological survey exists, and the wreck has never been found.
Final Disposition
The schooner was found wrecked, likely driven ashore or onto underwater shoals. With no survivors and no salvage efforts reported, she was deemed a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no charted wreck hazards marking her site. Unlike later wrecks, there are no surviving timbers or markers, making her a lost wreck with only a basic historical note.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”victory-victor-1835″ title=”References & Links”]
Schooner Victory, constructed in 1835, met her fate in a spring gale on 28–29 March 1844 in Lake Michigan. Discovered wrecked by Fur Trader, she claimed the lives of seven or eight crew members. With no modern rediscovery or memorial, Victory remains a little-known but significant early Great Lakes maritime tragedy.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Victory (sometimes Victor)
- Built: 1835 by L. Goler in Cape Vincent, New York (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Vessel Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner
- Dimensions: Approximately 80 × 20 × 8 ft; ~117 tons (old measure) (research.mysticseaport.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Official Number: Not listed
- Final Loss: 28 or 29 March 1844, Lake Michigan (exact location unknown) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo: Not documented
- Crew: Seven or eight aboard—no survivors reported
Vessel Type
A small coastal goods schooner, typical of early-19th-century lake commerce—built for transport of general freight and outfitted to navigate Great Lakes coastal routes.
History & Final Voyage
Victory set sail near the end of March 1844 when she encountered a violent spring gale on Lake Michigan. She was later discovered wrecked by the schooner Fur Trader, captained by Ripley. All aboard—either seven or eight—perished in the disaster, and no survivors were found (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Dispositio
The schooner was found wrecked, likely driven ashore or onto underwater shoals. With no survivors and no salvage efforts reported, she was deemed a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was first identified by Fur Trader in late March 1844, but no GPS location or archaeological survey exists, and the wreck has never been found.
Notations & Advisories
There are no charted wreck hazards marking her site. Unlike later wrecks, there are no surviving timbers or markers, making her a lost wreck with only a basic historical note.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files listing details build, loss date, and discoverer Fur Trader under Capt. Ripley (meanderingmichiganhistory.weebly.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
Schooner Victory, constructed in 1835, met her fate in a spring gale on 28–29 March 1844 in Lake Michigan. Discovered wrecked by Fur Trader, she claimed the lives of seven or eight crew members. With no modern rediscovery or memorial, Victory remains a little-known but significant early Great Lakes maritime tragedy.
victory-victor-1835 1844-03-29 20:01:00