Shipwreck Report: Scow-Schooner D.G. Wright (1868–1875)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: D.G. Wright (also recorded as D.B. Wright)
• Official Number: 35185
• Vessel Type: Scow-Schooner (Wooden Sailing Vessel)
• Built: 1868, by L. Ingraham, South Haven, Michigan
• Final Location: 9 miles north of South Haven, Michigan, Lake Michigan
• Date Lost: May 11–12, 1875
• Cause: Storm – Capsized and wrecked
• Final Cargo: Lumber (loaded at Saugatuck, Michigan, for delivery to Chicago, Illinois)
• Loss of Life: 6 crew members lost
• Specifications Tonnage: 125 tons (old measurement)
• Hull Material: Wood 
• Number of Masts: Two (typical for scow-schooners of this size)
• Owner: Unknown (likely operated out of South Haven or Chicago)
• Home Port: Presumed to be South Haven, Michigan

Vessel Type & Purpose

The D.G. Wright was a scow-Schooner, a flat-bottomed sailing vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes for carrying bulk cargoes like lumber, stone, and grain.

• Scow-schooners were particularly well-suited for shallow harbors and rivers, making them essential for Michigan’s lumber trade.
• They were typically cheaper to build and operate than deep-Draft schooners but were more vulnerable to stormsdue to their boxy shape and low freeboard.
•  The D.G. Wright was built in South Haven, Michigan, a center for lumber shipping on Lake Michigan.

Final Voyage & Loss (May 11–12, 1875)

Departure & Route:  The D.G. Wright departed Saugatuck, Michigan, on the evening of May 11, 1875, after loading a cargo of lumber. She was bound for Chicago, Illinois, a key market for timber from Michigan’s forests.

Weather Conditions: Shortly after departure, a violent storm arose over Lake Michigan. Scow-schooners, with their flat bottoms and large cargo loads, were highly susceptible to capsizing in rough weather.

Incident Details: The vessel capsized sometime during the night, unable to withstand the storm’s heavy winds and waves. By the next morning (May 12), her overturned Hull washed ashore 9 miles north of South Haven. All six crew members were lost at sea.

Aftermath:

There are no reports of significant salvage efforts, suggesting the vessel was too badly damaged to be recovered. Given that her hulk washed ashore, it is likely some of her lumber cargo was retrieved.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near the shoreline, 9 miles north of South Haven, Michigan
• Current Condition:  
  • The wooden Hull likely broke apart over time, either washed away by waves or buried beneath sand.
  • Iron fastenings, anchors, or ship fittings may still be present underwater.
  • No known modern wreck discoveries have been linked to the D.G. Wright, but local divers and historians may be aware of remnants.

Potential for Discovery:

• If any artifacts remain, they are likely buried in the shifting sandbars near the South Haven shoreline.
• Shoreline erosion or storms could reveal new evidence of the wreck.

Legacy and Significance

The Perils of Scow-Schooners on the Great Lakes The D.G. Wright is an example of the dangers faced by scow-schooners, which were cheap and practical but also prone to disaster in heavy weather. Many similar vessels were lost in storms, particularly while transporting lumber—a cargo that could become unstable if not properly secured.

The Role of Michigan’s Lumber Industry in Great Lakes Shipping

The D.G. Wright was part of the massive timber trade on the Great Lakes, supplying Chicago’s booming construction industry. Michigan’s lumber shipments were vital to 19th-century economic growth, with thousands of similar vessels making the same journey each year.

A Sudden and Deadly Disaster

The D.G. Wright’s loss happened quickly and without warning, typical of shipwrecks where vessels capsized in storms. The fact that her overturned Hull washed ashore so quickly suggests she may have gone down close to land, but her crew had no time to escape.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical records of Great Lakes schooners and shipwrecks.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org Focuses on shipwreck discovery and underwater archaeology in Lake Michigan.
• South Haven Historical Association Preserves local maritime history, including lumber shipping and shipwrecks near South Haven.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com Showcases Great Lakes shipwrecks lost in storms and wrecked along Michigan’s shoreline.

Conclusion

The D.G. Wright was a hardworking scow-Schooner that met a tragic end on May 11–12, 1875, when a violent storm capsized her on her way to Chicago. Her wreckage washed ashore 9 miles north of South Haven, but all six crew members perished.

Like many other scow-schooners of the era, she was an essential part of the lumber trade, yet her flat-bottomed design made her vulnerable to the unpredictable storms of Lake Michigan. Today, her remains likely lie buried in the sands of South Haven’s shoreline, waiting to be rediscovered.