Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Theodore Perry
- Official No.: 24163
- Type: Wooden Schooner‑Barge (unrigged Barge at time of loss)
- Built: 1855 by Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, NY; converted to Schooner again in 1872 by Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee
- Dimensions: 137 × 26 × 11 ft; approx. 261 GT
- Condition at Loss: Light, in tow of the propeller D. W. Powers, bound Buffalo → East Saginaw
- Cargo: Coal
- Master: Capt. McCormick
- Owner: J. Prentice (Saginaw, MI) (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss (July 22, 1887, Lake Erie)
- Occurring ~15 miles east of Rondeau Point, Theodore Perry, being towed with her sister barges, dropped into a wave trough, struck bottom, and “opened her seams.” She sank in under five minutes.
- Crew of seven, but only two survived—five lost their lives. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Site & Physical Condition
- Location: Approximately 15 miles east of Rondeau Point, Lake Erie
- Site Details: Wreck rests mid-lake in likely 60–100 ft of water. Given rapid sinking, Hull integrity may be preserved, though seams may have sprung—indicating structural failure at the bottom impact. Wreck remains unlocated/surveyed.
Notices & Navigational Risk
- No evidence of Notices to Mariners or hazard buoy deployment; mid-lake location preempted marking.
Sources & Archival Documentation
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“P” section): official number, build history, cargo details, sinking summary, crew fatalities. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Alchem, Inc. Lake Erie Shipwreck Map: corroborated sinking date, location, casualties, and cargo. (alcheminc.com)
- Wisconsin maritime history commentary: confirmed crew loss count. (linkstothepast.com)
Key Facts Summary
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sinking Date | July 22, 1887 |
| Cause of Loss | Struck bottom under swells → opened seams |
| Vessel Status | Unrigged Schooner-barle, light cargo |
| Casualties | 5 of 7 lost, including Capt. McCormick |
| Site Location | ~15 miles east of Rondeau Point, likely 60–100 ft depth |
| Survey Status | Wreck not yet documented by divers or remote sensing |
Next Research & Archaeological Suggestions
- Precise location modeling: simulate drift and towing path with NOAA weather archives (July 1887) to predict wreck drift.
- Newspaper accounts: review late July 1887 Detroit Free Press, Port Huron Times, Sarnia Observer for incident reports and crew names.
- Owner & Tow-boat logs: seek J. Prentice shipping records or D. W. Powers captain’s logs for event details.
- Underwater survey: use side-scan sonar along probable sinking corridor; seek Hull structure in uncharted mid-lake zones.
- Victim records: consult Ontario and Michigan death/insurance records for names of five crew lost.
Archaeological & Historical Importance
- Vessel Transition: Embodies mid-late 19th-century cargo vessels shifting between sail and tow service.
- Tragic Human Toll: Five sailors lost at dawn highlights the perilous nature of eastbound Lake Erie coal transport.
- Preservation Potential: Swift sinking, cold fresh water, and minimal disturbance suggest the wreck could be intact, offering strong research value in wooden marine construction and seam integrity.