Posted by Brendon Baillod on July 14, 1999 at 23:06:53:
In Reply to: St. Mary's posted by Mike on July 14, 1999 at 15:16:51:
: as much about this shipwreck as possible, I'm not sure if anything has been posted in regards to location, gps,
: loran or any facts surrounding her. I would like to dive her. If anyone has any info. thanks
If you're interested in the St. Marys off Illinois,
(which I suspect you are), the location is not yet
in general circulation. She is under survey by the
UASC and is quite an historic vessel. She went down the
same night as the Lady Elgin, only a bit farther out.
She is archeologically quite valuable, and if recent
history is any indication, the release of her location
will be immediately followed by a free for all of artifact
theft and vandalism. It is true that most Great Lakes
divers are ethical, but because of the small but significant
number who are not, I'm not sure I favor releasing her
location as yet. Here's some demographics on her from
one of my databases:
NAME : St. Marys
FIRST : St.
MIDDLE :
LAST : Marys
TYPE : Schooner
DATE_BUILT : 1848
BUILT_AT : Perrysburgh, Ohio
BY :
DIMENSIONS : 114.0 x 28.2 x 9.6 ft.
TONNAGE : 253.25 gt. OM
OFFICL_NO_ : None
CONSTNOTES : Name also seen as St. Mary
ACCDT_TYPE : Foundered
ACCDT_DATE : September 8, 1860
MONTH : 09
DAY : 08
YEAR : 1860
ACCDTPLACE : Off Winnetka, Illinois
ACCDTNOTES : Foundered off Illinois with cargo of pig iron, seven lives
lost. A total loss.
TOTAL_LOSS : Yes
FOUND : Yes
COORDS : Unrealeased
DEPTH : 120 ft.
WRECKNOTES : This vessel was found in 1995 and her location is known by
members of the Underwater Archeology Society of Chicago.
REFERENCES : Mansfield's History of the Great Lakes, Arthur & Lucy
Frederickson's Lake Michigan Wreck Charts, Herman Runge
Wrecklist, Valerie Olson-Van Heest, WMHS Enrollment Database,
Walter Hirthe Wrecklist
PHOTO : No