Bark Twilight (1862–1887)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Twilight
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 24397
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden, three-masted Bark
• Builder: I. Lafrinier, Cleveland, Ohio
• Year Built & Launched: 1862
• Specifications: Gross Tonnage: 337 GT
• Date Lost: November 18, 1887 (some sources list 1877, but 1887 is the most accepted date)
• Location of Loss: Northeast of Port Sanilac, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Cause of Loss: Storm, Total Loss
• Loss of Life: 7 crew members lost
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Description & History

The Twilight was a three-masted wooden Bark, built in 1862 in Cleveland, Ohio, by I. Lafrinier. Originally designed for bulk cargo transport, she likely carried lumber, coal, grain, or general merchandise between Great Lakes ports.

She operated for over 25 years, surviving several major incidents, including:  1872: She sank off Sand Beach, Michigan, in the fall and overwintered on the bottom.  June 1873: Recovered and returned to service, showing the resilience of 19th-century salvage operations.

Final Incident & Loss

On November 18, 1887, the Twilight was caught in a powerful northeast gale on Lake Huron while sailing northeast of Port Sanilac, Michigan. The storm overwhelmed the vessel, leading to her complete loss.  Seven crew members perished in the wreck.  Due to incomplete records, specific details of the disaster are unknown, but similar losses suggest that high waves and shifting cargo may have contributed to her sinking.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after the storm.
• No records of salvage or wreck recovery.
• No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
• No known wreck site identified. Given that she sank in deep water northeast of Port Sanilac, any remains may be scattered or buried under sediment.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Lake Huron’s “Shipwreck Alley” off Michigan’s Thumb Coast has claimed hundreds of vessels, and many remain undiscovered or only partially mapped.

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 Twilight was a long-serving Great Lakes Bark, enduring a previous sinking and salvage in 1872 before ultimately being lost in a violent storm off Port Sanilac in 1887. The loss of seven crew members highlights the dangers faced by sailors on Lake Huron, particularly in the storm-prone waters of Shipwreck Alley. Though no known wreckage has been found, she remains one of many lost sailing vessels still hidden beneath the lake’s depths.