Other Names #
- J. BIGLER
- JOHN BIGLER,
The schooner Bigler, also known as J. BIGLER or JOHN BIGLER, was a wooden-hulled schooner built in 1866 by James Madison Jones in Detroit, Michigan. It had a length of 144 feet, a beam of 26 feet, and a depth of 12 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 344 tons and a net tonnage of 327 tons.
Throughout its history, the Bigler had different owners and home ports. It was initially enrolled in Detroit and owned by various individuals and companies, including A. Currier of Detroit and George C. Finney of Chicago.
On September 3, 1884, the Bigler encountered a storm on Lake Superior and foundered about 10 miles north of Huron Islands. It was carrying a cargo of stone at the time of the incident. Fortunately, there was no loss of life among the crew members. The vessel was deemed a total loss, with the hull valued at $10,000 and the cargo at $3,500. The insurance coverage for the ship and cargo amounted to $11,500.
The sinking of the Bigler led to a protest being filed against the insurance company by Captain Murray, who was the commander of the vessel. The details of the protest are not provided in the information you provided.
The schooner Bigler had a notable incident prior to its sinking. In 1881, it encountered difficulties on Lake Huron, including leaks and grounding. The vessel was towed to Port Huron for repairs, which involved patching and caulking the hull.
Overall, the Bigler had a significant history as a timber carrier and general cargo vessel on the Great Lakes. It played a role in transporting goods across the lakes and experienced various adventures and challenges during its years of service.
