Identification & Construction
- Built: 1881 (likely in a Michigan yard; exact builder and Hull number remain unverified)
- Type: Wooden vessel—possibly a Schooner, Barge, or steam-assisted; exact rigging and propulsion not specified in available brief records
- Cargo Capacity: Not documented—no tonnage or capacity data found
Final Incident & Loss
- Date of Loss: April 1896 (exact day unspecified)
- Cause: Destroyed by fire, presumed Total Loss (“fire—none?” note indicates no further details)
- Location: General area—Lake Huron, Michigan side; exact coordinates or port location unknown
- Casualties / Crew: Not specified; no records regarding survivors or fatalities
Available Records & Citations
- A truncated notation exists in Great Lakes shipwreck indices listing year, “Apr,” “fire,” and “none?” casualties, final location “Huron”
- There are no extended accounts in major incident logs, maritime registers, or contemporary newspapers readily searchable
- Secondary source searches (e.g. Wikipedia for related incidents) yield no further clues (tile.loc.gov, nyshistoricnewspapers.org, sheboyganwi.gov)
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Area | Proposed Research |
|---|---|
| Vessel Details | Locate ship registration data (official number), tonnage, and build info via U.S. Customs, Great Lakes Registers, or BGSU HCGL files |
| Contemporary Accounts | Search mid-April 1896 editions of newspapers (e.g. Detroit Free Press, Bay City Times, Port Huron Michigan Times) for fire reports |
| Insurance Records | Marine and Hull insurance files often had records of Total Loss by fire |
| Coast Guard / Lighthouse Logs | Lake Huron station logs may mention report of vessel aflame or loss, including location and crew rescue |
| Archival Correspondence | Letters or logs held in state archives (Michigan, Ontario) may carry notes on the incident |
| Side-Scan/ROV Dive Search | If approximate area found, underwater survey may confirm any Hull remains |
Summary
At present, EVA is an obscure, under-documented Great Lakes vessel lost to fire in April 1896 on Lake Huron. The incident is recorded only in summary form—there’s no evidence of the type of vessel, crew outcomes, or precise location. To develop a full shipwreck profile, we’ll need to consult registry data, period newspapers, and specialized maritime archives.