Identification & Site Information
- Name: Lizzie Throop
- Other Names: None
- Official Number: 14678
- Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast
- Builder: J. Connor, Mill Point, Michigan
- Date Built: 1849
- Specifications: Length: 86 ft (26.2 m) Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 97 gt (123 t. om)
- Date of Loss: October 17, 1873
- Place of Loss: South Haven, Michigan Lake Michigan
Vessel Type & Design
The Lizzie Throop was a 2-mast Schooner, typical of the time for transporting various goods across the Great Lakes, including bulk freight. Built by J. Connor in Mill Point, Michigan in 1849, it had a modest size with a Gross Tonnage of 97 (around 123 tons in measurement). The Schooner design with two masts would have made it a versatile vessel for its time, capable of sailing or being towed. Given its size and construction, it was likely used for various cargo types, but specific details of its final cargo are unclear.
Final Voyage & Loss
On October 17, 1873, the Lizzie Throop met its end during a storm at South Haven, Michigan, located along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The storm caused the Schooner to be driven ashore, where it was reported as a Total Loss.
Despite the ship being stranded, there were no fatalities reported, and the crew’s safety appears to have been secured. The precise nature of the storm or conditions that caused the shipwreck is not specified, but storms on Lake Michigan during this era were notorious for their sudden severity, often leading to accidents.
Final Disposition
After being driven ashore and suffering Total Loss, the wreck of the Lizzie Throop likely remained at the location near South Haven, though no further recovery or salvage operations are mentioned in the historical records available.
NOTMARs & Advisories
South Haven and other parts of Lake Michigan near the western shoreline were subject to storm-prone conditions, especially during the fall months when fierce gales were common. No modern navigational warnings specifically tied to the wreck of the Lizzie Throop have been recorded.
Resources & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
Conclusion
The Lizzie Throop was yet another victim of the unpredictable and often violent storms of Lake Michigan. On its final voyage in October 1873, the 2-mast Schooner was driven ashore at South Haven in a storm, and though it was a Total Loss, there were no casualties. The Schooner had also experienced a serious accident in 1854, but it appears to have continued service until its final fate.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Lake Michigan shipwreck, schooner wrecks, storm-related shipwrecks, 19th-century shipwrecks
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, 19th-century storm losses, Great Lakes Schooner wrecks
Glossary Terms: Schooner, Total Loss, Lake Michigan Storms
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