Identification & Site Information

• Name: John Raber
• Former Names: General Worth (original name until renamed after 1871)
• Official Number: 10150
• Date Built and Launched: 1848
• Builder: William Treat, Euclid, Ohio (some sources suggest Cleveland, Ohio)
• Measurements: Length: 118 ft (35.97 m)  Beam (Width): 25 ft (7.62 m) Depth of Hold: 10 ft (3.05 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 224 tons
• Net Tonnage: 212 tons
• Date Lost: September 29, 1895
• Place of Loss: Near Whiting, Indiana (Dane Park area), Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm-related structural failure and wreck
• Loss of Life: 1 (Captain Andrew Johnson drowned)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Lumber

Vessel Type

The John Raber was a wooden Schooner, originally built as a Brig under the name General Worth in 1848. Over her long career, she was converted to a Schooner, a common modification to prolong the service life of aging vessels. Schooners like the John Raber were essential workhorses of the Great Lakes, transporting bulk goods such as lumber across the region’s extensive waterways.

Description

Constructed by William Treat in Euclid, Ohio, the vessel was initially rigged as a Brig—a two-masted sailing ship with square sails on both masts—ideal for early Great Lakes commerce. At some point after 1871, she was renamed John Raber and likely re-rigged as a Schooner to improve efficiency and reduce crew requirements.

Measuring 118 feet in length with a 25-foot beam and a 10-foot depth of hold, she had a Gross Tonnage of 224 tons and a Net Tonnage of 212 tons. Like many vessels of her era, the John Raber was repurposed multiple times to meet the evolving demands of Great Lakes shipping.

History

The John Raber had an eventful and lengthy career on the Great Lakes, spanning nearly five decades. Her early years as the General Worth were typical of brigs engaged in regional trade, carrying a variety of goods. As maritime technologies advanced and the economic landscape shifted, she was converted to a Schooner, which required fewer crew members and could still haul substantial cargo.

She endured several significant incidents before her final wreck, In November 1867, she was heavily damaged during a storm off Dunkirk, New York, resulting in the tragic loss of seven crew members. She was expected to be a Total Loss but was evidently salvaged and returned to service.  On October 10, 1895, just days after her ultimate wreck, she reportedly ran aground again near Ahnapee, Wisconsin (now Algoma), during dense fog and a southeast gale while en route from Pine Lake (Charlevoix, Michigan) to Milwaukee. The crew Abandoned the vessel, and reports at the time suggested she had broken up. However, she was somehow salvaged again, only to meet her final fate later that same month.

Final Disposition

On September 29, 1895, while carrying lumber toward Chicago, the John Raber encountered a fierce storm on Lake Michigan near Whiting, Indiana. Described as an old and worn-out vessel by that time, she began to break apart under the strain of the weather. The crew fought valiantly, working the pumps to keep her afloat until she reached shallow waters.

In a desperate attempt to save his ship, Captain Andrew Johnson left the vessel to seek assistance from a Tug. Tragically, he drowned in the process. The remaining crew members were rescued by the U.S. Life-Saving Service, an early forerunner of the modern Coast Guard.

Though the Schooner was severely damaged and effectively a Total Loss, her remains likely scattered in the vicinity of Dane Park near Whiting, Indiana. The fact that she was involved in multiple wrecks within a short period in 1895 underscores her deteriorating condition at the time.

Located By & Date Found

Nil – There are no confirmed reports of the exact discovery of the John Raber’s wreck site. Given her location near Whiting, Indiana, remnants may still exist, though they are likely heavily deteriorated.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The waters near Whiting, Indiana, are active shipping routes with known historical wreck sites. Mariners should consult updated nautical charts for submerged hazards, though the John Raber’s remains are not specifically marked.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

 Keywords: John Raber, General Worth, schooner, brig, Lake Michigan shipwreck, Whiting Indiana wreck, Great Lakes lumber schooner, storm wrecks, 19th-century maritime disasters

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Great Lakes Lumber Schooners, Wooden Sailing Vessels

Glossary Terms: Brig Schooner  Life-Saving Service Tonnage

Conclusion

The John Raber’s story is emblematic of the rugged resilience—and eventual vulnerability—of Great Lakes schooners in the 19th century. From her beginnings as the General Worth to her final days battling storms near Chicago, she reflects both the commercial importance and the inherent dangers faced by vessels navigating the inland seas. Despite surviving multiple disasters, her long service came to an end in 1895, a testament to the unforgiving nature of the Great Lakes.