Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: TELEGRAPH
• Official Number: None
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer, Wood, Passenger & Package Freight
• Builder: A. Sprague, Dexter, New York
• Year Built: 1836
• Specifications: Length: 131 ft (39.9 m) Beam: 19 ft (5.8 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Tonnage: 196 tonnage (Old Style)
• Rebuilds: Reportedly Rebuilt as a Schooner in 1852 after sustaining fire damage
• Date Lost: 1850s (exact date unclear)
• Cause: Believed to be piracy-related or wrecked in a storm
• Place of Loss: Off Beaver Islands, Lake Michigan (also reported ashore near White Lake, MI, after an 1853 gale)
• Cargo: Unknown
• Loss of Life: Unknown

Vessel Type

The TELEGRAPH was a Sidewheel Steamer, a common vessel type in the early days of Great Lakes shipping. These steamers were designed for passenger service and package freight, operating along coastal routes where their shallow Draft allowed for easy access to river ports and undeveloped harbors.

Constructed in 1836 by A. Sprague of Dexter, New York, the TELEGRAPH measured 131 feet in length with a beam of 19 feet and a depth of 8 feet. Her wooden Hull, sidewheel propulsion, and modest tonnage of 196 tons were typical of early Great Lakes steamers, balancing cargo capacity with the ability to navigate relatively shallow waters.

While she served mainly in passenger and freight roles, her later history suggests she may have been converted to a Schooner in 1852 following a destructive fire. This Conversion, if accurate, reflects a common practice of the era, where damaged steamers were repurposed rather than scrapped.

History

The TELEGRAPH was active during a turbulent time on the Great Lakes, operating routes likely between ports in Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York. Steamers like hers were essential for the economic growth of frontier towns, carrying mail, supplies, settlers, and commercial goods.

Her reported loss is surrounded by mystery and conflicting accounts. Some historical references suggest that the vessel fell victim to piracy near the Beaver Islands during the 1850s. This aligns with historical events related to the Beaver Island “Kingdom” of James Strang, a breakaway Mormon colony known for conflict with local settlers and allegations of piracy and raiding in Lake Michigan. Though sensationalized, these reports hint at a lawless period in the region’s history.

Alternatively, TELEGRAPH may have met her end in a violent gale in 1853. A newspaper report from that year details a vessel of her description driven ashore near White Lake, Michigan, where she became a probable Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The vessel’s final fate is unclear. If the piracy theory holds true, she may have been deliberately captured and scuttled or destroyed. If the 1853 gale report is accurate, she was likely wrecked by natural causes, a common fate for wooden vessels battling Lake Michigan’s notorious storms. Reports indicate that after being damaged by fire in 1852, she was Rebuilt as a Schooner, suggesting that the TELEGRAPH had a complicated post-Steamer career before her eventual disappearance.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database
• NOAA Great Lakes Wrecks
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD)

Conclusion

The TELEGRAPH represents the uncertain, often perilous world of early Great Lakes navigation. Whether lost to the forces of nature or the actions of pirates operating from the infamous Beaver Islands, her disappearance adds to the lore of the Great Lakes’ maritime frontier. Her story also highlights the blurred line between fact and folklore, as reports of piracy may have been exaggerated during an era filled with tension, smuggling, and lawlessness in the region.