JOHN SWEENEY (1855)

Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None (also seen as J. S. SWEENEY)
• Official Number: None
• Type at Loss: Bark, Wood, 3-Mast
• Build Info: 1855, Built by F. N. Jones at Buffalo, New York
• Specs: 418 tonnage(Old Style)
• Date of Loss: December 1, 1866
• Place of Loss: Off Muskegon, Michigan
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Carrying: Lumber

Vessel Type

The JOHN SWEENEY was a three-masted Bark made of wood. Barks were typically used for cargo transport, particularly when the ship was designed to handle heavy loads like lumber, which was one of the most commonly shipped commodities across the Great Lakes. This type of ship was a popular choice for longer hauls, such as the one between Muskegon and Chicago.

Description & History

The JOHN SWEENEY was a three-masted bark, a type of ship commonly employed for hauling bulk goods like lumber. The vessel was built in 1855 by F. N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. With a tonnage of 418 tons, she was designed to carry substantial loads across the Great Lakes.

In 1866, Gottleib Schlecht, a Chicago butcher and shipowner, was the vessel’s owner. Schlecht owned a number of vessels operating out of Chicago, and the JOHN SWEENEY was one of his fleet used to transport lumber from the shores of Michigan to Chicago.

On December 1, 1866, while on a voyage from Muskegon to Chicago, the JOHN SWEENEY encountered a severe gale. The storm forced the Bark off course, and she was driven onto the bar at the mouth of the Muskegon River. Unable to regain her course, the vessel broke up soon after striking the bar. The crew managed to escape without any loss of life, though the ship was a Total Loss.

One peculiar detail regarding the loss of the JOHN SWEENEY was that her insurance coverage had expired on November 30, 1866, just one day before the accident occurred. This fact was likely a bitter irony for her owner, Gottleib Schlecht, who had just missed the window for compensation had the disaster occurred a day earlier.

Final Dispositions

After the vessel broke up on the Muskegon River bar, it was left to deteriorate in the turbulent waters. The ship’s remains likely scattered in the area, as there were no reports of efforts to salvage the wreck. Given the storm and the damage, recovery was probably not feasible, and the vessel’s wreckage would have been destroyed by the elements over time.

Located By & Date Found

No further reports indicate the discovery or recovery of the JOHN SWEENEY wreck. It is presumed that the remains were lost or broken apart in the storm, leaving no lasting trace after the December 1, 1866 disaster.

Notices & Advisories

Wreck Location: At the mouth of the Muskegon River, Lake Michigan.

Navigational Hazard: The wreck of the JOHN SWEENEY potentially posed a hazard in the area but was likely washed away or broken up after the storm.

Resources & Links

• Historical Information: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• General Lake Michigan Maritime Data: Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The JOHN SWEENEY was a three-masted Bark that carried lumber between Muskegon and Chicago. Her tragic loss occurred during a gale on December 1, 1866, when the vessel was driven ashore and broke up at the mouth of the Muskegon River. Despite her owner’s unfortunate timing with the insurance expiration, the loss did not result in any fatalities. The JOHN SWEENEY remains a part of the Michigan and Great Lakes maritime history, marking the dangers of winter storms on these waters.