History
The W.W. Arnold was a wooden schooner built in 1863 by H.J. Williams in Buffalo, New York. It had the official number 26166. The vessel had a tonnage of 426 tons according to the old measurement system, and 347 net tons.
On November 15, 1869, the W.W. Arnold met its tragic end near the mouth of the Two-Hearted River in Lake Superior. The schooner was caught in a violent storm known as the “great gale of November” and was driven ashore. The force of the storm tore the vessel apart, and it quickly sank. All hands on board, including several passengers, lost their lives in the incident. The W.W. Arnold was carrying a cargo of iron ore and was bound from Marquette, Michigan, to Cleveland, Ohio at the time of the disaster. The master of the vessel was Captain Beardsley.
The loss of the W.W. Arnold, including both the vessel and its cargo, amounted to $55,000. The vessel was owned by J.D. Bothwell of Cleveland. The insurance coverage for the vessel was $18,000, and the insurance on the cargo was $25,000.
Prior to the 1869 incident, the W.W. Arnold had different owners. In 1864, it was owned by J. Kelderhouse of Buffalo, New York. In 1866, the ownership transferred to Harrison & McGibbons. The vessel was eventually owned by J.D. Bothwell of Cleveland at the time of its loss.
Unfortunately, all hands on board, totaling eleven individuals, perished in the storm and subsequent sinking of the W.W. Arnold.
External Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships
