Wooden Schooner, built 1855; lost May 13, 1906
Vessel Identity & Specs
- Official number: 7308
- Type: Wooden two-masted Schooner
- Built: 1855 at Cleveland, Ohio
- Owner & Tow: Under tow by the Tug Miner in 1906
Final Incident (May 13, 1906)
- Location: South end of Bois Blanc Island (Detroit River region)
- Circumstances: The Schooner—under tow by Miner—collided with a known underwater obstruction, which had previously damaged larger vessels.
- Outcome: Ellen Williams managed to drift under her own masts into nearby Callum’s Bay, where she sank and was declared a Total Loss
- Casualties: None reported; crew presumed safe
Summary Table
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Loss Date | May 13, 1906 |
| Cause | Struck submerged obstruction near Bois Blanc Island |
| Aftermath | Sank in Callum’s Bay; declared unrecoverable |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Registry | Documents not surrendered until 1910, indicating abandonment without salvage |
| ({cite}turn0search0{cite}) |
Research & Exploration Opportunities
- Newspaper Coverage (May 1906):
Local outlets—Detroit Free Press, Windsor Star—likely reported on the accident and provided obstruction/crew details. - Tow and Harbor Records:
Logs from Tug Miner and Detroit River harbour authorities may include specifics on the obstruction and the immediate salvage attempts. - Hydrographic Charts:
Mid-19th to early-20th century surveys of the Detroit River/Bois Blanc corridor could pinpoint the obstruction’s location and why it resisted detection. - Archaeological Status:
Wreck in Callum’s Bay may still be present; a targeted sonar dive may identify her remains and submerged obstruction.
Recommended Next Steps
- Pull May 1906 newspaper accounts for firsthand incident reports
- Retrieve Miner’s tow logs or Detroit River harbor documentation
- Locate historical hydrographic charts around Bois Blanc Island
- Check for archaeological or sonar survey data near Callum’s Bay