Identification & Site Information

• Name: Frank W. Wheeler
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: 120577
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1884 by F. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan (Hull #18?)
• Measurements: 190 ft (57.9 m) length x 35 ft (10.7 m) beam x 16 ft (4.9 m) depth; Gross Tonnage: 797 tons; Net Tonnage: 775 tons
• Date Lost: September 29, 1885
• Place of Loss: Off Grand Marais, Michigan, Lake Superior

Vessel Type

The Frank W. Wheeler was a wooden-hulled, three-masted Schooner designed for bulk freight, particularly for hauling heavy commodities like iron ore across the Great Lakes.

Description

Constructed in 1884 at the F. Wheeler shipyard in West Bay City, Michigan, the Frank W. Wheeler was a large Schooner for her time, purpose-built for the iron ore trade, a booming industry on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. With her substantial size and triple-mast configuration, she was designed to maximize cargo capacity and efficiency while under sail, often operating in tandem with steam-powered vessels as a tow.

History

The Frank W. Wheeler was barely a year old when she met her fate on Lake Superior. Owned by Forbes of Port Huron and commanded by Captain Byron Armstrong, the Schooner was engaged in transporting iron ore, one of the most demanding cargoes due to its sheer weight, which placed significant stress on wooden-hulled vessels.

On September 29, 1885, while in tow of the Steamer Kittie M. Forbes, the Frank W. Wheeler encountered foul weather off Grand Marais, Michigan. The rough conditions exposed a fatal flaw in her construction or design: she sprang a leak, likely due to Hull failure under the immense weight of her iron ore cargo. It is believed that some of her strakes (the long planks running lengthwise along the Hull) may have sprung or shifted, compromising the integrity of the vessel.

Despite being a brand-new vessel, the Frank W. Wheeler could not withstand the combination of heavy seas and cargo stress, and she Foundered (sank) in Lake Superior. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident, as the crew managed to escape before the Schooner went down.

Economic Impact

The loss of the Frank W. Wheeler was a significant financial blow. Valued at $45,000, the Schooner represented a substantial investment for the time—equivalent to over a million dollars today when adjusted for inflation. Her rapid demise so soon after her construction highlights the inherent risks in Great Lakes shipping, particularly in the iron ore trade, where even the most robust vessels could fall victim to the harsh conditions of Lake Superior.

Final Disposition

The Frank W. Wheeler Foundered off Grand Marais, Michigan, and was declared a Total Loss. There is no record of any successful salvage operations, and the wreck likely remains submerged in the waters of Lake Superior.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the Frank W. Wheeler have been issued.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Great Lakes Ships Kittle L Forbes
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The loss of the Frank W. Wheeler underscores the perils faced by even the most modern and well-built schooners on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Designed specifically for the heavy iron ore trade, the vessel’s structural failure in foul weather illustrates the constant battle between engineering and the formidable forces of Lake Superior. While no lives were lost, the Schooner’s rapid demise after just a year of service reflects the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes.

Suggested Keywords: Frank W. Wheeler, Grand Marais shipwrecks, Lake Superior schooners, iron ore transport, Great Lakes maritime disasters, Kittie M. Forbes.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Superior, Wooden Schooners of the Great Lakes, Iron Ore Transport Vessels, 19th Century Maritime Disasters.

Glossary Terms: Three-Masted Schooner, Hull Failure, Foundering, Strakes, Iron Ore Cargo.