Schooner Tribune (1847–1848)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Tribune
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Pre-1869 U.S. vessel documentation era)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner
• Builder: Unknown shipyard, Chicago, Illinois
• Year Built & Launched: 1847
• Specifications:  Length: 104 ft (31.7 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 276 GT
• Date Lost: April 18, 1848
• Location of Loss: Off Cathead Point, Michigan, Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Storm (Foundered and disappeared)
• Loss of Life: 10 (entire crew perished)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Possibly carrying wheat or none (sources conflict)

Vessel Description & Service History

The Tribune was a large, early Great Lakes Schooner, built in Chicago in 1847. She was designed for cargo transport, particularly for hauling grain, lumber, and general freight across Lake Michigan and beyond.  By 1848, she was only one year old, making her loss one of the earliest major shipwrecks on Lake Michigan.  She was valued at $17,000 at the time of her disappearance, a significant investment for the era.  She likely operated between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Michigan ports.

Final Voyage & Loss (April 18, 1848)

On April 18, 1848, the Tribune was sailing in lower Lake Michigan when she encountered a powerful storm. She completely disappeared, and her fate was unknown for over a year.  All 10 crew members were lost, making it a tragic Total Loss.  Reports suggest she may have been carrying wheat, though some sources claim she was empty at the time.

Her loss was a mystery until November 1849, when Native American fishermen discovered her masts sticking upright out of the water off Cathead Point, Michigan.  This discovery suggests she sank in relatively shallow waters.  It also implies she may have gone down quickly without breaking apart, possibly due to capsizing rather than structural failure.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• No known salvage efforts.
• Likely remains at the bottom near Cathead Point, Michigan.
• No confirmed wreck discovery in modern times.
• Initially found in 1849 by Native fishermen (masts standing upright).
• No modern wreck site confirmed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Cathead Point is known for sudden storms and shipwrecks, particularly in the early years of Great Lakes commerce. Many early schooners were lost due to unpredictable weather, limited navigation technology, and poor Hull strength for large waves. The Tribune’s mysterious disappearance and later discovery echo similar wrecks in Great Lakes history, where vessels sank intact in deep water before being found years later.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Tribune was one of the earliest lost schooners on Lake Michigan, vanishing in April 1848 before being found over a year later with its masts still upright. The loss of 10 crew members was one of the deadliest early shipwrecks on the lake, and her wreck remains undiscovered today. If located, she would be one of the best-preserved examples of an early Great Lakes cargo Schooner.