Identification & Site Information
- Name: Euphemia
- Type: Two‑masted wooden Schooner
- Built: 1852 (yard unspecified)
- Lost: Capsized during a gale on Lake Michigan at the mouth of a harbor—date spanned overnight May 26–27, 1859
- Cargo: Lumber
- People Onboard: 7 crew; 6 fatalities; only 1 survivor (digitalcommons.hope.edu, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia, Wikipedia)
Vessel Type & Construction
- A standard mid-19th-century wooden Schooner, rigged with two masts and flat Hull suited to hauling bulk cargo (lumber) across the Great Lakes.
- Frequently used within coastal trade routes and harbor deliveries.
Final Voyage & Loss
- The Euphemia anchored near the mouth of a harbor while loaded with lumber.
- On the night of May 26 into May 27, 1859, a sudden and violent gale struck. The vessel capsized and sank within minutes.
- Of the seven crew, six perished; only one crew member survived by luck or circumstance (digitalcommons.hope.edu).
Wreck Site & Physical Condition
- Location: At the mouth of an unspecified harbor on Lake Michigan—likely in shallow water subject to breaker action.
- Condition: No formal survey exists. The wreck likely lies where she capsized, with structural timbers and scattered lumber cargo in shallow, debris-filled waters. The Stern, Hull, rigging, and Deck cargo may remain fragmented.
Notices & Hazards
- No records of Notices to Mariners or hazard markers for the site have been identified.
Sources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – E: Entry on Euphemia notes capsizing in a gale while laden with lumber and crew loss (Wikipedia, digitalcommons.hope.edu, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Joint Archives Quarterly (2009): Details on one survivor and six fatalities when the vessel went down May 26–27, 1859 (digitalcommons.hope.edu)
Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps
| Area | Suggested Research |
|---|---|
| Exact harbor/location | Compare contemporary harbor records (1859 charting); narrow probable sites via harbor mouth coordinates |
| Crew & Survivor | Search 1859 newspapers (e.g., Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune) for survivor interview or crew manifest |
| Shipyard/build details | Consult Great Lakes vessel registers and custom house enrollment books (1852) for construction data |
| Wreck discovery & survey | Deploy side-scan sonar in shallow harbor entrance zones to locate the capsized Hull and lumber debris |
| Archival logs | Investigate marine insurance ledgers and marine board inquiries for official investigation outcomes |
Archaeological & Historical Significance
The wreck of Euphemia provides a rare snapshot of mid-19th-century harbor-trade schooners and the dangers they faced from sudden seasonal gales. Its shallow coastal location and high mortality event suggest strong currents and vessel instability in downbursts. A documented site survey could add to broader understanding of small-vessel construction, crew survival mechanisms, and shoreline shipping logistics during that historical period.