Possible Shipwreck Exposed After Nor’easter in Nantucket

A maritime expert is set to visit a Nantucket beach to investigate weathered wooden beams uncovered by a recent nor’easter, potentially remnants of a 19th-century shipwreck on the island’s southern shore. The Egan Maritime Institute announced its exhibits and collections manager will assess the site and share findings with state underwater archaeologists to identify the vessel’s origins.

The beams, joined with rusted iron, surfaced near a location where remains of the wooden schooner Warren Sawyer, lost in 1884, were previously discovered. Officials caution that the newly exposed wreckage is yet to be definitively identified.

The slow-moving nor’easter struck the Northeast coastline over the weekend, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas, flooding areas from New Jersey to New England and causing power outages for over 100,000 customers at times. In Massachusetts, several boats were cast ashore and the storm heightened concerns about coastal erosion as waves hit beaches and seawalls.

“It’s amazing to think from, you know, over 100 years old that it’s still there,” Graziadei stated.

The Warren Sawyer ran aground on December 22, 1884, carrying cotton and scrap iron from New Orleans to Boston, as noted by the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources. Its captain and crew of seven were rescued. The ship remained intact on Miacomet Beach for two weeks, allowing islanders to salvage 700 bales of cotton using oxen. Another storm on January 6, 1885, dispersed parts of the hull and cargo over half a mile of beach.

Jason Graziadei, an island resident and editor of the Nantucket Current, visited the beach with his son upon hearing about potential wreckage. They discovered wooden beams on a beach by the wastewater facility known as the “Sewer Beds.” Graziadei noted the erosion formed a steep drop-off, impacting beach accessibility. He found the discovery intriguing, as it was beneath a route frequented by summer beachgoers.

A video posted by the Nantucket Current shows waves crashing against the beams. Graziadei’s son expressed curiosity about the ship’s history and its fate. Archaeologists surveyed a 42-foot hull section on Miacomet Beach in late 2022, likely belonging to the Warren Sawyer. A stern portion appeared in February 2023, buried again by shifting sands.

Nantucket, known as “graveyards of the Atlantic,” has over 750 estimated shipwrecks in nearby waters. The institute advised visitors to leave the new wreckage undisturbed, as Massachusetts law forbids altering underwater archaeological resources.

A recounting of 1945 details Patrolman Eugene Clisby spotting schooner lights, prompting emergency alerts amid tumultuous seas and darkness. Life savers rigorously secured the line to rescue the crew. By morning, all aboard were safely on the beach.