(originally built 1882; lost 4 September 1912)
- Official number: 136048 (original Registry Number C# 85471)
- Built: 1882 by D. Foster, Port Dover, Ontario; originally launched as E. M. Foster, later renamed Edward H. Jenks before becoming Faustin (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven Bulk Freight “Rabbit” freighter, 123 ft × 24 ft × 10 ft, 256 gross / 166 net tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History & Previous Incidents
- Stranded off Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron in October 1888; later released in spring
- Capsized in 1891 near Ballard’s Reef, Lake Erie (under name Jenks); remained sunk for nine years until raised and Rebuilt in 1900 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: 4 September 1912 (some sources also cite May 15 1910, but primary data supports the 1912 date) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Location: Off Bar Point (near entrance to Detroit River), Lake Erie (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type of Loss: Foundered in a storm while en route from Milwaukee to Buffalo. Took on water (category: storm), and sank quickly after a collision with Schooner Harvest Home on a dark night (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cargo: Wheat
- Casualties: 0 of 8 aboard were lost; all survived (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- The vessel sank rapidly and was declared a Total Loss.
- Enrollment records show abandonment to underwriters in early 1913 (per 1913 Merchant Vessels register) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia, Alchem Incorporated)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Faustin (formerly E. M. Foster, Edward H. Jenks) |
| Official No. | 136048 |
| Build Year & Shipyard | 1882, Port Dover, Ontario |
| Dimensions | 123 × 24 × 10 ft; 256 GRT / 166 NRT |
| Loss Date | 4 September 1912 (alternate May 15 1910 less likely) |
| Loss Location | Off Bar Point, at approach to Detroit River, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Foundered after collision in storm |
| Cargo | Wheat |
| Casualties | None (8 crew rescued) |
| Modern Rediscovery | None documented |
Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps
- Crew and cargo details: No official crew roster or wheat tonnage listed.
- Collision specifics: Identity, ownership, and fate of Harvest Home not documented here.
- Local records: Investigate Buffalo and Ontario newspapers (Sept 1912 editions) for collision and rescue eyewitness accounts.
- Underwriters’ files: Access insurance claim documentation for valuations and loss descriptions.
- Hull condition & location: No dive surveys or archaeological documentation exists; wreck likely near Bar Point shoals.
Conclusion
Faustin—built in 1882 in Port Dover and Rebuilt in 1900—was lost after a fatal collision and foundering on 4 September 1912 off Bar Point, Lake Erie. The vessel sank during a gale and collision; all eight crew survived. Earlier significant incidents (capsizing in 1891, refloating 1900) mark her as a well-traveled but ill-fated Hull. No modern archaeological rediscovery is known.
Would you like guidance digging into period newspapers, archives of the underwriters, or vessel registry files for deeper crew or technical detail?