Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

A.P. Dutton US 376

Explore the story of the A.P. Dutton, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1868, with no wreckage ever found.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A. P. DUTTON
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: E. W. Beckwith
  • Dimensions: 65 ft (19.8 m); Beam 15 ft (4.6 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 44 gross tons
  • Location:
  • Official Number: Official No. 376
  • Original Owners: Patrick Kinney
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden two-masted schooner

Description

The A. P. DUTTON was a compact wooden schooner built in 1856 in Racine, Wisconsin by E. W. Beckwith. At 65 feet (19.8 metres) in length and 44 gross tons, she was designed for light cargo and general trade across Lake Michigan. Her modest size and shallow draft made her ideal for accessing smaller harbours on the eastern shore.

History

Owned by Patrick Kinney of Benton Harbor, Michigan, the DUTTON was a regular trader between Chicago and ports along Michigan’s coast. On December 8, 1868, she departed Chicago loaded with schoolhouse furniture for the Brittain Avenue School House in Benton Harbor. Aboard were Captain Joseph McLean of Chicago, two crewmen, and a passenger, James Campbell, a well-known resident of the St. Joseph area.

Significant Incidents

The DUTTON never arrived at Benton Harbor. A violent storm struck the lake the night of December 8, 1868, with winds shifting rapidly from southwest to northwest. She is believed to have foundered with all four aboard. No wreckage or remains were ever found, and the schooner was declared lost with all hands. The specific cause of the loss is presumed to be storm-related, with no other vessels nearby to witness the final moments.

Final Disposition

There is no confirmed location or discovery of the wreck site of the A. P. DUTTON as of current records.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No navigational warnings or official advisories exist for this wreck.

Resources & Links

The disappearance of the A. P. DUTTON stands as a reminder of the risks faced by small commercial schooners on Lake Michigan during the age of sail. Her loss, while unremarked in wreckage, represents the fate of dozens of similar craft lost without a trace in the 19th century. Her role in supporting Michigan’s developing communities through trade highlights the essential contributions of such modest but hardworking vessels.