Official Number: 19332
Vessel Type: Single‑Deck wooden Schooner
Builder: O. Shaw
Master Carpenter: Joseph F. Smith
Original Owner: Swales & Smith, South Haven
Dimensions: 67 ft length × 16.5 ft beam × 5.3 ft depth
Tonnage: 41 gross; 39 net

Chronology & Operational History

  • 1876: Owned by J. Snell of South Haven (registered at 59 gross tons).
  • 1879: Remains under J.A. Snell’s ownership in South Haven (41 gross tons).
  • 1880: Rebuilt (details unspecified).
  • 1882: Capsized and Abandoned off Grand Haven, Michigan; later salvaged or repaired.
  • August 9, 1904: Sank off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan while carrying sawdust.
  • Note: Some records also associate her with South Chicago as a port.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 9 August 1904
  • Location: Off Calumet, Illinois, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Sawdust
  • Cause: Sank under unknown circumstances; specific details not found in available sources.

Wreck & Dive Notes

  • Wreck Status: Sunk offshore; no structural condition data available.
  • Dive Potential: Site location undefined; may be deep-water and uncharted.
  • Modern Survey: No known surveys or dive explorations recorded.

Research Recommendations

  1. Newspaper Archives (1904):
    • Chicago Tribune, Calumet & Hegewisch publications, Lake County (IN) and Cook County (IL) newspapers for wreck notices or eyewitness accounts.
  2. Local Port Records:
    • Calumet Harbor master logs or Coast Guard incident reports from early August 1904.
  3. Ownership & Insurance Files:
    • Swales & Smith correspondence in South Haven archives; Board of Lake Underwriters or similar maritime insurer records.
  4. Maritime Databases & Directories:
    • Steamboat and Schooner directories 1900–1904 may note final registry and vessel fate.
  5. Historical Societies:
    • Calumet Area Historical Society or Illinois State Archives may retain crew lists, salvage records, or site maps.

Sources Cited

Summary

The SHAW, O. was a South Haven-built Schooner, active from 1870, Rebuilt in 1880, and capsized once in 1882. Her service ended on 9 August 1904 when she sank off Calumet, Illinois, while carrying sawdust. Details surrounding the accident remain elusive. I recommend consulting contemporary newspapers, harbor logs, and underwriters’ records to uncover eyewitness details, causes, crew lists, cargo manifests, and potential salvage actions.