Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Description

The F.J. King was a wooden-hulled schooner built in 1867 for the Wilcox Brothers of Toledo. Constructed with superior long timbers and heavy planking, she was designed for the timber and ore trade. Originally launched as a two-masted vessel, she was later altered to a three-masted schooner to maximize carrying capacity for the bulk trades of the late 19th century.

History

Launched at Toledo on 15 June 1867, the event drew wide attention in the region. Newspapers praised the vessel’s stout construction, large cargo ports, and well-finished accommodations. Registered at 280.55 gross tons, the King quickly entered the grain, lumber, and ore trades of the Great Lakes.

• 1871: Lost her bowsprit in a gale at Buffalo; also stranded at Black River Bar but was refloated.
• 1874–1880s: Frequent trips between Lake Erie, Chicago, and the upper Lake Michigan ore ports.
• 1886: Re-rigged as a three-masted schooner and re-decked for increased capacity.

The vessel changed ownership several times, with home port shifted to Ogdensburg, N.Y., and later managed out of Chicago.

Final Dispositions

On 15 September 1886, while carrying 600 tons of Escanaba iron ore downbound for Chicago, the F.J. King sprang a leak during a heavy southeast gale off Sturgeon Bay. Captain Griffin attempted to run before the wind into North Bay, but waterlogged pumps could not keep pace with flooding. The crew of eight abandoned ship for the schooner La Petite, which had come alongside to assist. By 2 a.m., F.J. King sank in 26 fathoms (~150 ft) of water, about six miles off Cana Island. No lives were lost.

Located By & Date Found

In September 2025, a Wisconsin Historical Society survey team confirmed the wreck site of the F.J. King off Door County, solving a 139-year mystery. Earlier lighthouse keeper reports had noted her masts protruding above the water before they were cut off as navigational hazards by the revenue cutter Andrew Johnson.

Notmars & Advisories

The wreck lies outside active navigation channels. No current U.S. Coast Guard advisories apply. Diving is subject to Wisconsin state heritage law.

Dive Information

Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Baileys Harbor or Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Conditions: Cold deep water; limited visibility; strong thermocline
Depth Range: 140–160 ft (43–49 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan; Door County Sheriff
Permits: Required for artifact recovery; dive visitation permitted
Dive Support: Charters from Sturgeon Bay and Door County harbors

Crew & Casualty Memorials

All eight crew members survived the sinking and were taken aboard the assisting schooner La Petite. No known memorials specific to the vessel are recorded.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“Schooner F.J. KING… laden with iron ore from Escanaba to Chicago, sprung a leak and sunk in twenty-six fathoms of water about six miles off Cana Island at 2 o’clock this morning. The crew reached shore in the yawl. The vessel and cargo are a total loss.” – Detroit Tribune, 17 September 1886

“The F.J. KING was constructed for the timber trade, and strength being the main consideration… her hull is put together in the strongest manner, the planking being double bolted, and in every part the greatest attention was given to render the hull as staunch as possible.” – Toledo Blade, 18 June 1867

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

U.S. Official Number 9299. Enrolled at Toledo in 1867 for Wilcox Bros. Registry records list dimensions as 144 × 26.0 × 11.6 ft, 280.55 gross / 266.35 net tons. By the 1880s, registered home port Ogdensburg, N.Y. Vessel appears in Merchant Vessel Lists through 1885. Insurance details not located; presumed covered for ore trade.

Site Documentation & Imaging

The wreck site was confirmed in 2025 by side-scan sonar and ROV documentation. The vessel lies upright in ~150 ft of water with collapsed deck structures but significant hull sections intact. A 3D photogrammetry model is available via Wisconsin Historical Society and Sketchfab.

Image Gallery

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Wisconsin Shipwrecks
• Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
• Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
• People Magazine

References

1. Toledo Blade, 15 & 18 June 1867 – launch reports.
2. Detroit Tribune, 17 September 1886 – sinking account.
3. Merchant Vessel List, U.S. 1869 & 1885 – registry specifications.
4. Wisconsin Historical Society – F.J. King wreck survey (2025).
5. Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU/HCGL) – ownership history.

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card