Identification & Site Information

• Name: DREADNAUGHT (also spelled DREADNOUGHT)
• Official Number: 35270
• Date Built and Launched: 1867
• Measurements: Length: 66 feet (20.1 meters); Beam: 19 feet (5.8 meters); Depth: 7 feet (2.1 meters); Gross Tonnage: 59 tons; Net Tonnage: 56 tons
• Date Lost: November 28, 1893
• Vessel Type Wooden schooner, possibly a scow-schooner

Description

The DREADNAUGHT was a wooden-hulled Schooner constructed in 1867 by shipbuilder Charles Luff in Detroit, Michigan. Designed primarily for transporting lumber, she featured a two-masted rig and was built to navigate the Great Lakes’ challenging conditions. Some records suggest she may have been a scow-Schooner, characterized by a flat-bottomed Hull, which allowed for easier loading and unloading of cargo in shallow waters.

History

Throughout her operational life, the DREADNAUGHT was primarily engaged in the lumber trade, transporting timber from ports such as Washington Island to destinations like Milwaukee. On November 28, 1893, while en route from Washington Island to Milwaukee with a cargo of lumber, the vessel encountered severe weather conditions on Lake Michigan. The accumulation of ice on her upper structures rendered her unmanageable, causing her to drift approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) off Racine, Wisconsin. The Steamer SYRACUSE discovered the stranded Schooner and successfully rescued the two crew members aboard. Subsequently, the Abandoned DREADNAUGHT drifted ashore near Saugatuck, Michigan. The combined value of the vessel and her cargo was estimated at a modest $725 at the time. Captain Olsen of Milwaukee served as both her master and owner during her final voyage.

Final Disposition

After the crew’s rescue, the DREADNAUGHT was left to drift and eventually grounded near Saugatuck, Michigan. Given the vessel’s low value and the circumstances of her stranding, it is likely that she was deemed a Total Loss and not recovered.

Located By & Date Found

There are no records indicating that the wreck of the DREADNAUGHT has been located or surveyed to date.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No navigational warnings or advisories related to the DREADNAUGHT wreck site are currently noted.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: DREADNAUGHT
• Great Lakes Vessels Online Index: DREADNAUGHT
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: DREADNAUGHT

The DREADNAUGHT’s service life exemplifies the challenges faced by wooden schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. Despite the perils of ice accumulation and severe storms, vessels like the DREADNAUGHT were essential to the regional lumber industry, facilitating the transport of vital resources across the lakes.

Keywords: DREADNAUGHT, Schooner, Great Lakes shipwreck, Lake Michigan, maritime history

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Wooden Schooners

Glossary Terms:

• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically rigged fore-and-aft, used extensively in the 19th and early 20th centuries for cargo transport.
• Scow-Schooner: A type of Schooner with a flat-bottomed Hull, allowing for navigation in shallow waters and ease of loading and unloading cargo.
• Gross Tonnage: A measure of the overall internal volume of a vessel.
• Net Tonnage: The volume of cargo a vessel can carry; calculated by subtracting non-revenue-earning spaces from the Gross Tonnage.