TOPSY – Shipwreck Information

• Official No.: 24578
• Other Names: None (also seen as “Topsey”)
• Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner
• Built: 1867, F. Leighton, Port Huron, Michigan
• Specifications:  Length: 101 ft (30.8 m)  Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m)  Depth: 8 ft (2.44 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 146 tons (146 t)
• Net Tonnage: 139 tons (139 t)
• Date of Loss: June 9, 1891
• Place of Loss: Near Waugoschance Point, western Straits of Mackinac
• • Lake: Michigan
• • Type of Loss: Storm
• • Loss of Life: None
• • Cargo: Lumber
• • Owner at Time of Loss: Not specified
• • Captain at Time of Loss: Not specified

Vessel Type

• Type: Wooden Schooner

Description

The Topsy was a wooden Schooner built in 1867 by F. Leighton in Port Huron, Michigan. The vessel was 101 feet long, 25 feet wide, and had a depth of 8 feet. It had a Gross Tonnage of 146 tons and a Net Tonnage of 139 tons, which placed it in the smaller range of Great Lakes schooners. At the time of its loss, the Topsy was carrying a hold and deckload of lumber. On June 9, 1891, while downbound near Waugoschance Point in the western Straits of Mackinac, the Topsy encountered a fierce storm. The storm caused the vessel to strand, and despite the crew’s efforts to escape, the ship was wrecked. Fortunately, all crew members survived the ordeal. However, the Topsy was a Total Loss, valued at approximately $3,000.

Final Dispositions

The Topsy was wrecked after stranding near Waugoschance Point. While the crew managed to escape, the vessel was a Total Loss. There is no indication of recovery efforts for the wreck, and the Topsy’s remains were likely left at the site. The incident highlights the perilous nature of navigating the Straits of Mackinac, especially during storms.

Located By & Date Found

There are no reports of the Topsy being rediscovered or recovered. The wreck was most likely left at the site near Waugoschance Point, which remains a historical marker of maritime danger in the western Straits of Mackinac.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no specific navigational advisories or marks currently associated with the wreck of the Topsy, as the vessel was stranded and wrecked in 1891. The location of Waugoschance Point remains an important reference point for maritime navigation, but the wreck itself no longer poses a hazard.

Resources & Links

• David Swyaze Shipwreck FIle
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
• The Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Wikipedia Waugoschance Point

Conclusion

The Topsy was a wooden Schooner that met its end on June 9, 1891, when it stranded and wrecked near Waugoschance Point in the western Straits of Mackinac. The vessel, carrying a load of lumber, was caught in a storm, and although the crew survived, the Schooner was a Total Loss. The Topsy’s wreck stands as a reminder of the dangerous conditions in the Straits and the risks faced by sailors navigating the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.