Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: WILLIAM TELL
• Official Number: 26348
• Type at Loss: Scow-Schooner, Wood, 2-Mast
• Builder: C. Rose, New Baltimore, Michigan
• Year Built: 1851
• Gross Tonnage: 33 tons (44 tons old measurement)
• Rig: 2-mast scow-Schooner
• Date Lost: August 20, 1869
• Cause: Fire, likely due to spontaneous combustion of cargo
• Place of Loss: Off St. Joseph, Michigan, Lake Michigan
• Cargo: Barrels of lime and miscellaneous merchandise
• Loss of Life: None—crew escaped in the small boat

Vessel Type

The WILLIAM TELL was a wooden scow-Schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Scow-schooners were characterized by their flat-bottom Hull design, making them ideal for transporting heavy cargoes, particularly along shallow coastal waters, rivers, and harbors. Their sturdy construction and shallow Draft allowed them to access ports that deeper vessels could not.

Built in 1851 by C. Rose in New Baltimore, Michigan, the WILLIAM TELL was a 33-ton scow-Schooner with a broad, flat Deck and a simple rig of two masts. Vessels of this type were widely used for hauling bulk cargoes like lumber, lime, stone, and general merchandise across the Great Lakes. The scow design, while not particularly fast, was economical and easy to load and unload.

History

The WILLIAM TELL operated primarily in Lake Michigan, running between ports such as Milwaukee, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor. She was owned by Captain Robinson of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and commanded by Captain Hugh Keenan at the time of her loss.

Her primary trade involved transporting barreled lime, a common commodity in the 19th century used for construction, agriculture, and industrial purposes. Lime cargo, however, posed a significant fire risk because it can spontaneously combust when exposed to moisture, creating intense heat through an exothermic reaction.

Final Disposition

On August 20, 1869, while en route from Milwaukee to St. Joseph, the WILLIAM TELL caught fire. The blaze likely started due to spontaneous combustion of her lime cargo. The crew did not detect the fire until it had already burned through the Deck, making it impossible to control.

Realizing the vessel was beyond saving, Captain Keenan and his crew Abandoned ship in the small boat, successfully escaping without loss of life. The WILLIAM TELL burned to the waterline and was completely destroyed. The fire consumed both the vessel and her cargo.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA)
• Library and Archives Canada 
• Great Lakes Shipwreck File (David Swayze)

Conclusion

The loss of the WILLIAM TELL reflects the inherent dangers of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce, particularly the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials like lime. Despite her tragic end, her story is a testament to the resilience of Great Lakes mariners, as Captain Keenan and his crew survived what could have been a catastrophic incident. The wreck remains an undiscovered piece of maritime history, lying somewhere beneath the waves near St. Joseph, Michigan.