Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

  • Type: Schooner
  • Rig: Two-masted, fore-and-aft
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: 1

Description

  • Builder: E. LeFebre
  • Original Owner: Stewart, Oswego, NY
  • Tonnage (Old Style): 441 tons
  • Later Measurement (1868): 353.9 gross tons

History

  • 1862: Launched and enrolled at Oswego, NY.
  • 1864 (October 6): Lost chain and anchor in Lake Huron.
  • 1865 (November 8): Damaged in a gale on Lake Ontario.
  • 1871: Owned by Lyons & Finney, Oswego, NY.
  • 1874 (November): Aground on Graham Shoals, Lake Huron, while carrying grain.
  • 1875: Owned by Hearnes and partners, Cleveland, OH.
  • 1875 (September 16): While downbound from Escanaba, Michigan with a load of iron ore, the CZAR was caught in a storm near Presque Isle, Michigan. The vessel was pushed onto a reef. The force of the grounding shoved the Keel up through the bottom of the Hull, likely from striking underwater boulders. Though the Tug SWEEPSTAKES was able to assist and rescue the crew, the Hull was later washed off the reef and settled in deeper water, a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The CZAR was fatally stranded during a storm and pushed onto a rocky reef, sustaining catastrophic Hull damage. Despite rescue efforts, the vessel was unsalvageable and subsequently slipped into deeper water.

Located By & Date Found

No definitive record of wreck discovery exists. Remains may still lie near Presque Isle in deep water but have not been documented or confirmed by modern divers.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Schooner CZAR had a 13-year operational history spanning grain and ore transport during the Great Lakes’ commercial boom. Built in Oswego, she met her end carrying iron ore on Lake Huron when forced onto a reef by storm-driven seas near Presque Isle. The incident underscores the perilous nature of fall shipping conditions and the risks faced by wooden bulk carriers operating without modern navigation aids.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: Schooner, iron ore, reef grounding, Lake Huron, storm wreck
  • Categories: Shipwrecks – Lake Huron, Great Lakes Iron Trade, 19th Century Schooners
  • Glossary Terms: Stranded, Reef, Gross Tonnage, Downbound, Boulders, Tug Rescue