Identification & Site Information

• Name: R.G. Winslow
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 21139
• Date Built & Launched: 1857
• Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
• Specifications: 149 ft x 30 ft x 12 ft (45.4 m x 9.1 m x 3.7 m), 390 tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden Bark, originally built as a two-masted Schooner
• Date Lost: November 27, 1867
• Place of Loss: Spectacle Reef, Lake Huron
• Cause of Loss: Stranded in a storm and later broke up
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Unknown
• Port of Registry: Buffalo, New York

Vessel Type

The R.G. Winslow was originally built as a two-masted Schooner but was later converted into a three-masted Bark. This type of vessel was commonly used on the Great Lakes for carrying bulk cargoes such as grain, lumber, and coal. Barks were particularly suited for long voyages across the lakes, offering improved stability and cargo capacity over smaller schooners.

Description & History

The R.G. Winslow was constructed in 1857 by the Cleveland shipbuilders Quayle & Martin, a well-known firm active in the mid-19th century. The vessel operated primarily between Chicago and Buffalo, likely transporting a variety of goods between these major port cities. At 149 feet in length, it was a sizable ship for the time, capable of handling the rough waters of the Great Lakes.

On November 27, 1867, while en route from Chicago to Buffalo, the R.G. Winslow encountered a powerful gale near Spectacle Reef in northern Lake Huron. The storm drove the vessel aground on the reef, leaving it stranded. Despite distress signals being flown, passing vessels did not stop to offer assistance. Eventually, the ship began to break apart under the relentless waves.

The crew, left to fend for themselves, managed to escape to another stranded vessel, the Bark Annie Vought, which had also run aground nearby. From there, they eventually made it to shore without any loss of life. Given the severity of the wreck and the location, the R.G. Winslow was a Total Loss, and it is unlikely that any substantial remains of the vessel exist today.

Final Disposition

The vessel broke apart at Spectacle Reef, likely sinking into the shallow, rocky waters. There is no record of salvage efforts, indicating that the remains were left to deteriorate naturally. The wreckage may have been scattered by waves and ice over the years, making it difficult to locate any surviving structure today.

Located By & Date Found

There are no confirmed reports of the wreck being located, though some debris may remain near Spectacle Reef.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Spectacle Reef is known as a navigational hazard, with shifting underwater rocks and strong currents. The Spectacle Reef Light was later constructed in 1874 to help prevent similar wrecks in the area.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The R.G. Winslow is an example of the many vessels lost to sudden storms on the Great Lakes, particularly in dangerous areas such as Spectacle Reef. Despite flying distress signals, passing ships did not stop to help, a testament to the risks sailors faced during bad weather. While the wreck has not been definitively located, its story remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Huron.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Bark-rigged vessels, Spectacle Reef, 19th-century storms, Lake Huron maritime history

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden barks, storm wrecks

Glossary Terms: Bark, Schooner, Spectacle Reef, Distress signals