The Wreck of the Mary L. Higgie (1891)
Identification & Site Information
- Name: Mary L. Higgie
- Former Names: Estelle, Hattie A. Estelle
- Official Number: 90461
- Year Built: 1872
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Number of Masts: 3
- Builder: Hanson & Co., Manitowoc, WI
- Original Owner: James L. Higgie, Chicago, IL
- Construction Cost: $22,000
- Date Lost: November 17, 1891
- Location: On a bar north of Manistee, MI, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Wrecked while attempting to seek shelter
- Cargo at Loss: Wheat
- Lives Lost: 3
Vessel Type
The Mary L. Higgie was a three-masted wooden schooner built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1872. It was primarily used for Great Lakes cargo transport, carrying goods such as coal, grain, wool, and salt across the lakes and even into international waters.
Description
The Mary L. Higgie had an eventful career, often navigating both inland lakes and transoceanic routes. It was involved in numerous accidents, groundings, and repairs before its final loss in 1891.
On November 17, 1891, while en route from Chicago to Buffalo carrying a load of wheat, the ship encountered a severe Lake Michigan storm. As conditions worsened, the crew attempted to seek shelter at Manistee, Michigan. However, before reaching safety, the vessel Foundered on a bar north of Manistee and was wrecked. Tragically, three crew members lost their lives in the disaster.
Final Disposition
The wreckage of the Mary L. Higgie was never successfully salvaged, and no significant remains are known to exist today. The ship became one of the many casualties of Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather.
Notable Events in the Ship’s History
- 1872, August: Launched in Manitowoc, WI.
- 1874, July: Broke its Centerboard while sailing in Lake Ontario.
- 1875, December: Ashore on Fisherman’s Reef near the Door Peninsula while carrying coal.
- 1876-1877:
- Sailed from Green Bay, WI to England with timber.
- Returned with coal for Quebec.
- Traveled from Quebec to Cape Town, Africa, during the Boer War.
- Transported prisoners back to Cape Town, then returned to Quebec with wool.
- Voyaged to Toulon, France & Cadiz, Spain, later bringing salt to Chicago, IL.
- 1880: Underwent major repairs.
- 1882, June: Aground on Pilot Island, Lake Michigan, but later released.
- 1882, July: Stranded and repaired in Milwaukee, WI.
- 1886, September 6: Ran aground in the St. Clair River while carrying grain; successfully freed.
- 1887, October 26: Collided with scow Lorina at Portage Lake, Lake Michigan.
- 1889: Sold to Captain Estelle, renamed Hattie A. Estelle, and underwent repairs.
- 1891, November 17: Wrecked near Manistee, Michigan.
Located By & Date Found
- Status: No known remains or confirmed dive sites.
NOTMARs & Advisories
- No known navigational hazards or active warnings associated with the wreck site.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Mary L. Higgie had an extraordinary 19-year career, surviving multiple groundings, collisions, and transatlantic journeys before finally succumbing to Lake Michigan’s violent storms. Its international voyages set it apart from many Great Lakes vessels of its time, making its loss a significant part of maritime history.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Mary L. Higgie shipwreck, Lake Michigan schooners, Great Lakes maritime history, 19th-century shipwrecks, Manistee shipwrecks, Schooners lost on the Great Lakes
Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Sailing vessels, Transatlantic trade, 19th-century shipwrecks, Historical schooners
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