Possible 1884 shipwreck exposed by nor'easter on Nantucket

A maritime expert plans to inspect a mysterious shipwreck exposed by a powerful nor easter on Nantucket's southern shore on Monday. The Egan Maritime Institute's exhibits and collections manager will survey the site and report findings to state underwater archaeologists. The submerged wooden beams emerged near where remains of the Warren Sawyer, a wooden schooner that ran aground in 1884, have been found previously.

Officials from the institute caution the wreckage has not been identified with certainty. The nor easter battered the Northeast coast over the weekend with heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous surf, flooding low-lying communities and knocking out power to over 100,000 customers. Multiple boats were washed ashore in Massachusetts, and the storm raised concerns about coastal erosion.

The Warren Sawyer, carrying cotton and scrap iron, ran aground on Dec. 22, 1884, while en route from New Orleans to Boston. Its captain and seven-member crew were rescued. The schooner remained intact on Miacomet Beach for two weeks, allowing islanders to save 700 bales of cotton. However, another storm tore the ship apart on Jan.

6, 1885, scattering its remains across the beach. Over a century later, remains believed to be from the ship continue to emerge. Locals discovered the wooden beams on a beach while driving, remarking on the remarkable find as it was directly beneath a route typically driven by beachgoers.