A powerful nor’easter has exposed what may be another section of a long-lost 19th-century shipwreck on Nantucket, bringing a remarkable piece of maritime history back to the Massachusetts shoreline.
Wooden fragments believed to be from the three-masted schooner Warren Sawyer were spotted along the island’s south shore on Saturday, according to the Nantucket Current. The remains were found covered in seaweed, with weathered timber and rusted nails visible after the storm’s powerful waves pushed the debris onto the beach.
The identification has not yet been independently confirmed, but experts familiar with the wreck believe the material could be connected to the historic vessel.
Warren Sawyer disappeared off Nantucket in 1884
The Warren Sawyer was lost on December 22, 1884, while sailing from New Orleans to Boston.
The schooner was carrying cotton and scrap iron when it encountered severe winds and was driven off course. The vessel eventually went down near Miacomet Beach at around 11pm.
Historical accounts describe the conditions as extremely difficult, with gale-force winds and heavy seas leaving only the ship’s masts visible through the darkness.
Despite the wreck, all eight members of the crew survived.
Lifesavers rescued all eight crew members
A nearby lifesaving station played a crucial role in bringing the sailors ashore.
According to an account published in the Inquirer and Mirror in 1945, rescuers managed to secure a line over the schooner’s bow before hauling the crew to safety.
The crew included Captain Edwin L. Saunders of Boston, mate Andrew F. Coffin of Addison, Maine, and seamen Thomas Coleman, Alexander McLeod, John O’Daniel, Daniel J. Kane, George Sibley and Antone Swazey.
The historic account described the rescue as difficult because the vessel repeatedly lurched under the force of the waves. By the morning of December 23, however, all eight men had been safely brought onto the beach.
Previous wreckage was identified in 2023
The latest discovery follows an earlier encounter with the Warren Sawyer’s remains.
In February 2023, Nantucket resident Jesse Ahern was walking her dog when she noticed pieces of an old wooden vessel on the beach. She contacted local officials, who examined several fragments, including wooden beams and part of the ship’s stern.
The material was subsequently identified as belonging to the Warren Sawyer.
Ahern’s discovery was made roughly 300 yards west of the location where the schooner is believed to have wrecked.
Storm may have exposed more of the historic wreck
The latest fragments emerged as the nor’easter delivered powerful winds, heavy rain and enormous waves along parts of the US East Coast.
The storm struck the region on Friday, producing flooding, dangerous coastal conditions and widespread power outages. Nantucket was among the areas affected by the severe weather, while dramatic waves were also recorded along the Massachusetts coast.
The combination of strong surf and coastal erosion appears to have disturbed material buried along the shoreline, potentially revealing another part of the historic wreck.
Full moon adds to coastal danger
The storm coincided with a full moon, contributing to elevated tides and adding to the impact of waves along the northeastern coastline.
In Scituate, Massachusetts, large waves were seen crashing over the seawall, while other coastal communities faced flooding and hazardous conditions.
The early-season nor’easter has been notable for its strength, with forecasters warning of powerful wind gusts and significant rainfall across parts of the Northeast.
Thousands lose power as storm disrupts region
The nor’easter has caused widespread disruption beyond Nantucket.
More than 131,000 customers across the United States were without electricity early Sunday, according to PowerOutage. Connecticut recorded nearly 30,000 outages, while New York had about 26,000.
Virginia reported roughly 18,000 outages and Massachusetts about 15,000. Maine, Michigan and Pennsylvania each had around 5,000 outages, while New Jersey had approximately 3,000.
The storm also affected air travel, with more than 2,000 flights delayed and more than 430 cancelled on Saturday.
Events cancelled as dangerous weather persists
Severe weather also forced the cancellation of major events in New York.
The Global Citizen Festival in Central Park and the All Things Go Festival in Queens were both called off over the weekend because of the storm.
Meanwhile, forecasters warned that additional outages were possible as winds strengthened.
New York was expected to receive between three and six inches of rain, with northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley forecast to receive around two to six inches. Cape Cod, Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut were also facing rainfall totals of roughly four to six inches.
Against that backdrop, the possible reappearance of the Warren Sawyer offers a striking reminder that powerful storms can expose long-buried remnants of maritime history along the region’s coastline.
