Identification & Site Information

  • Built: 1867 at South Haven, Michigan
  • Official No.: 15441
  • Type/Decks: Wooden scow-Schooner, 1 Deck, 2 masts
  • Tonnage: 93.74 gross tons
  • Final Location: 7–10 miles north of St. Joseph, Michigan, in Lake Michigan
  • Loss Date: 17 October 1877
  • Loss Cause: Damaged by sudden squall, stripped of cargo/sails, and scuttled
  • Cargo at Loss: Lumber

History & Operational Background

  • 1868: Owned and likely operated out of South Haven, MI
  • Functioned as a commercial lumber hauler in southern Lake Michigan waters

Incident & Final Disposition

  • On 17 October 1877, while laden with lumber, Painter, L. encountered a sudden squall north of St. Joseph, MI
  • The storm severely damaged rigging and deckload; the crew stripped her of cargo and sails and intentionally scuttled her to prevent loss at sea
  • In the days following, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson attempted salvage, but the effort failed and the vessel was declared a Total Loss (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, us-data.org)

Crew & Rescue

  • Master recorded as Capt. W. R. Johnson
  • Crew presumably survived—no reported injuries or fatalities in available records (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Site Status & Archaeology

  • Wreck likely lies in shallow offshore waters north of St. Joseph; no underwater surveys or formal archaeological studies located
  • Shifting sands and scow structure suggest minimal surface remains; side-scan or magnetometer sweep recommended to confirm site

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Enrollment & crew documentation: Retrieve U.S. Registry (NARA RG 26) entries (1867–1877) to verify manifest and crew listing
  • USRC Andrew Johnson logs: Review Revenue Cutter Service operational records for detailed salvage notes
  • Contemporary newspaper coverage: Search St. Joseph Herald and Chicago Tribune archives (Oct 1877) for incident reports or salvage actions
  • Field reconnaissance: Conduct remote sensing near 7–10 mile arc north of St. Joseph to locate remains

Conclusion

Painter, L. is emblematic of late‑19th‑century scow-schooners on the Great Lakes—economical work vessels that often met violent ends in autumn squalls. Although salvaged in part, her stripped and scuttled Hull was Abandoned north of St. Joseph. Yet, the absence of formal archaeological study preserves the opportunity to discover structural remnants or artifacts. A methodical archival and field survey would enrich understanding of scow-Schooner design, storm resilience, and salvage practices in this pivotal era of Great Lakes maritime commerce.

Keywords

Scow‑Schooner, lumber cargo, Great Lakes squall, 1877 marine casualty, St. Joseph Michigan, USRC Andrew Johnson salvage.