Vessel Identification & Profile

  • Name: Emily B. Maxwell
  • Official Number: 135536 (U.S.); later Canadian C112362
  • Year Built: 1881
  • Vessel Type: Schooner (3-masted)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: 1

Construction & Dimensions

  • Built At: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
  • Builder: Hanson & Scove
  • Length: 148.5 ft / 45.26 m
  • Beam: 30.75 ft / 9.38 m
  • Depth: 10.58 ft / 3.23 m
  • Gross Tonnage: 360.7
  • Net Tonnage: 342.67

Ownership History

  • Initial Enrollment: November 8, 1881, Chicago, Illinois
  • Later Canadian Enrollment: By 1904 (C112362), indicating transfer to Canadian registry

Operational History & Incidents

  • 1884, Sept 12: Aground on Fitzwilliam Island, Georgian Bay, corn laden
  • 1887, Sept 7: Dismasted near Duck Islands, Lake Huron
  • 1894, Nov 9: Disabled and drifting near the Manistique River
  • 1896, Sept 2: Involved in a collision off Waugoshance while carrying stone for Chicago; sank COL. ELLSWORTH; crew saved
  • 1898, Oct 26: Lost sails and deckload on Lake Michigan

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date of Loss: August 31, 1909
  • Final Location: Off Cleveland Breakwater, Lake Erie
  • Cause: Driven into the Breakwater during a storm; vessel was torn apart and completely lost
  • Casualties: Not specified; presumed none

Historical Context & Significance
The Emily B. Maxwell exemplified late 19th-century Great Lakes Schooner construction, operating in both U.S. and Canadian waters. Her long career and varied incidents illustrate the hazards of grain, stone, and general cargo trade across the inland seas. She met her end violently during a storm at a major commercial harbor.

Keywords and Categories

  • Region: Lake Erie
  • Vessel Type: Schooner
  • Cause of Loss: Storm-driven collision with Breakwater
  • Material: Wood
  • Period: 1881–1909
  • Registry: U.S., later Canadian
  • Hazards: Collision, storms, grounding

Archival Sources & Research Leads