ANNIE TOMINE – Shipwreck Information

• Official No.: 1900* (also listed as US#29360 in 1869)
• Other Names: None
• Type at Loss: Wooden scow-Schooner
• Built: 1867, Soren Anderson, Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Specifications: Length: 103 ft (31.39 m) Beam: 23 ft (7.01 m)  Depth: 9 ft (2.74 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 127 tons (127 t)
• Date of Loss: October 4, 1885
• Place of Loss: 5 miles west of the entrance to Grand Haven, Michigan Harbor
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None of the 6 crew members
• Cargo: Lumber and lath (a type of wood used for building materials)
• Owner at Time of Loss: Mizner & Jones, homeported in Muskegon, Michigan
• Captain at Time of Loss: Captain John Rowland Disbrow
• Vessel Type Scow-Schooner (wooden vessel used primarily for hauling cargo)

Description

The Annie Tomine was a wooden scow-Schooner built in 1867 by Soren Anderson in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The vessel was 103 feet long, 23 feet wide, and had a depth of 9 feet. It had a Gross Tonnage of 127 tons and was primarily used to transport cargo such as lumber and lath.

In October 1885, the Annie Tomine was en route to Chicago, carrying a load of lumber and lath. However, the vessel encountered a fierce storm on Lake Michigan, causing it to spring a leak. The storm proved too much for the vessel, and it eventually went on its beam ends (capsized). The crew, described as being “in a perishing state,” managed to survive the disaster. They were rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service and the Tug Arctic.

After the crew was safely rescued, the Annie Tomine drifted ashore and eventually broke up about 7 miles south of the entrance to Grand Haven harbor. The vessel was homeported in Muskegon, Michigan, and was owned by Mizner & Jones. The Annie Tomine’s master at the time of the wreck was Captain John Rowland Disbrow.

Final Dispositions

After the vessel capsized in the storm, the Annie Tomine was rescued by the lifesaving service and the Tug Arctic. Despite this initial attempt to save the ship, it drifted ashore and was eventually broken up 7 miles south of the Grand Haven harbor entrance. The vessel was a Total Loss, and no significant recovery of the wreck is noted in historical records.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the Annie Tomine broke up ashore south of the entrance to Grand Haven harbor. There is no record of the wreck being rediscovered in more recent years, and it is presumed that the remains were likely dispersed over time.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no known advisories or hazards related to the wreck of the Annie Tomine at present. The vessel’s wreck occurred more than 130 years ago, and it is unlikely that the site poses any navigational issues today. However, the incident remains a part of the region’s maritime history.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
• The Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Annie Tomine was a wooden scow-Schooner that met its unfortunate end on October 4, 1885, when it capsized in a storm off Grand Haven, Michigan. Despite the perilous circumstances, the crew survived the ordeal, rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service and the Tug Arctic. After the sinking, the Annie Tomine drifted ashore and broke apart, marking the end of its brief career on Lake Michigan. The wreck serves as a reminder of the perils faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century, particularly those navigating the unpredictable weather of the region.