Identification & Site Information
- Name: Frank W. Wheeler
- Other Names: Also seen as F.W. Wheeler
- Official Registration Number: 120676
- Date Built and Launched: Built in 1887 by F. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan (Hull #31)
- Measurements: 265 ft (80.8 m) length x 41 ft (12.5 m) beam x 19 ft (5.8 m) depth; Gross Tonnage: 1,688 tons; Net Tonnage: 1,175 tons
- Date Lost: December 3, 1893
- Place of Loss: 1 mile offshore and 3 miles east of Michigan City, Indiana
Vessel Type
The Frank W. Wheeler was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven bulk freighter, designed for transporting large quantities of commodities such as coal and iron ore across the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1887 by the F. Wheeler shipyard in West Bay City, Michigan, the Frank W. Wheeler was a sizable wooden freighter built during a transitional period when steel-hulled vessels were becoming more common. At 265 feet in length and with a large cargo capacity, the vessel was part of a new generation of bulk freighters designed to maximize efficiency in transporting heavy goods, particularly coal and iron ore, to industrial centers like Chicago and Detroit.
History
Owned by D. Whitney Jr. of Detroit and commanded by Captain George N. Trotter, the Frank W. Wheeler served in the Great Lakes bulk freight trade, primarily transporting coal and iron ore between ports on Lakes Michigan and Superior. The vessel was part of the bustling commerce that fueled the rapid industrial growth of the Midwest in the late 19th century.
On December 3, 1893, while en route to Chicago with a cargo of coal, the Frank W. Wheeler encountered a severe blizzard and gale on Lake Michigan. During the storm, the vessel’s compass malfunctioned, causing her to veer off course. In the blinding snow and high winds, the crew was unable to correct the course in time, and the vessel ran aground on a sandbar approximately 1 mile offshore and 3 miles east of Michigan City, Indiana.
At first, the Frank W. Wheeler rested relatively stable on the sandbar, giving the crew hope that she might be salvaged once the storm passed. However, the relentless pounding of the waves and wind took their toll. As the blizzard continued, the vessel broke in two, and the heavy seas pounded her to pieces. Despite the catastrophic destruction of the ship, no lives were lost, as the crew managed to escape to safety.
Salvage Efforts
In the summer of 1894, salvage crews recovered the Frank W. Wheeler’s machinery, including her engine and boilers. However, the saga did not end there. While transporting the recovered machinery aboard a scow off Muskegon, Michigan, another storm struck, and the scow sank in 100 feet of water. This required a second, more challenging salvage operation to recover the machinery from the depths of Lake Michigan.
Final Disposition
The Frank W. Wheeler was destroyed by storm action after grounding near Michigan City, Indiana. While some of her machinery was eventually recovered after multiple salvage efforts, the vessel itself was a Total Loss and left no significant wreckage.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the Frank W. Wheeler have been issued, though the shifting sands and frequent storms near Michigan City, Indiana, remain well-known hazards to this day.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Frank W. Wheeler’s loss highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden bulk freighters during the late 19th century, especially when navigating Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather. Her grounding and subsequent destruction in a blinding blizzard underscore the limitations of navigational technology at the time, particularly the dependence on magnetic compasses, which were prone to errors. The ship’s story doesn’t end with her sinking, as the subsequent salvage efforts and the loss of her machinery off Muskegon add an extra layer of complexity to her history. The vessel’s fate serves as a reminder of the relentless challenges faced by mariners on the Great Lakes during this era.
Suggested Keywords: Frank W. Wheeler, Michigan City shipwrecks, Lake Michigan bulk freighters, Great Lakes coal transport, compass malfunction shipwreck, Muskegon salvage operations.
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Wooden Bulk Freighters, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Great Lakes Salvage History.
Glossary Terms: Propeller Bulk Freighter, Compass Derangement, Sandbar Grounding, Foundering, Salvage Operations.
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