Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Nor'easter May Have Uncovered 1884 Shipwreck Near Cape Cod

A recent powerful nor'easter storm battering the East Coast may have revealed a portion of a historic shipwreck on Nantucket Island, potentially belonging to the Warren Sawyer, which ran aground in 1884.

A Nantucket resident discovered wooden beams with iron fastenings on the Point of Breakers beach, a location where similar debris, identified as likely from the Warren Sawyer, emerged in late 2022 and early 2023. Experts believe the recent storm eroded the shore, exposing the wreckage.

The Warren Sawyer, a three-masted schooner, was carrying cotton and scrap metal from New Orleans to Boston when it wrecked on the island's south shore during gale-force winds. The captain and crew were rescued, and island residents salvaged much of the cargo before the ship was destroyed by waves.

Historical reports indicate that salvaged items from the Warren Sawyer were auctioned in January 1885, with wreckers and salvors receiving payment for their services. The discovery serves as a reminder of the island's maritime history and the challenges of life at sea.

Experts from the Egan Maritime Institute and the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources will collaborate to definitively identify the newly revealed wreckage. The discovery connects the island's past and present, allowing for a tangible link to 1884.

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