Three Brothers – Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: Built as MAY DURR, renamed JOHN SPRY in 1892, then renamed THREE BROTHERS in 1903
• Official No.: 91998
• Type at Loss: Propeller, Wood, Bulk Freight
• Build Info: 1888, Milwaukee Shipyard Co., Milwaukee (Hull #28)
• Specs: Length: 162 feet (49.4 meters) Beam: 31 feet (9.4 meters) Depth: 12 feet (3.7 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 583 tons (529.8 metric tonnes)
• Net Tonnage: 444 tons (402.4 metric tonnes)
• Date of Loss: September 27, 1911
• Place of Loss: South Manitou Island, near the Morazan wreck
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Carrying: Lumber

History and Description

The THREE BROTHERS was originally built as the MAY DURR in 1888 by the Milwaukee Shipyard Co. and was used as a bulk freighter primarily transporting lumber across the Great Lakes. Later renamed JOHN SPRY in 1892, the vessel was finally given the name THREE BROTHERS in 1903. She was a wooden propeller ship measuring 162 feetin length with a Gross Tonnage of 583 tons. Her 422-horsepower engine enabled her to handle large loads of lumber, which she carried on her trips across Lake Michigan.

On September 27, 1911, while bound from Boyne City to Chicago, the THREE BROTHERS encountered a fierce storm in Lake Michigan. During the storm, the ship began to leak and take on water, which led to her sinking. To save the crew, the vessel was run ashore near South Manitou Island, close to the location of the Morazan wreck. Once ashore, the crew was rescued by the South Manitou Island Lifesaving Service.

The vessel, however, was Abandoned and soon broke her back as the storm’s relentless force tore apart the Hull. Despite efforts to save her, she could not be repaired, and the wreck was left on the shore.

Final Disposition

In 1996, the wreckage of the THREE BROTHERS was discovered when a sandbar washed off part of her remains, exposing more of the ship’s structure to the surface. The wreck is now part of the maritime heritage of the Lake Michigan region and remains a poignant reminder of the treacherous conditions that vessels faced on the Great Lakes.

The South Manitou Island Lifesaving Service played a significant role in rescuing the crew, which is a testament to the importance of life-saving stations that dotted the Great Lakes at the time. The THREE BROTHERS was owned by White Transportation of Buffalo at the time of her loss.

Sources & References

• Maritime Vessel Database (MV)
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks (NS2, GS)
• Island Society Records (IS, NB)
• Michigan Shipwreck Database (NSP, MPL)
• Eastern Shore Archive (EAS)

Conclusion

The loss of the THREE BROTHERS in the storm of 1911 highlights the volatile and perilous nature of Great Lakes shipping, particularly in the region surrounding South Manitou Island, where many ships met similar fates. Fortunately, the crew was saved, and the wreck continues to be of historical interest, with portions of it revealed years after its final abandonment. The story of the THREE BROTHERS underscores the resilience of the Great Lakes mariners and the continuous threat of storms in the region, which contributed to the rise of life-saving services along the coast.