Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: A.P. Nichols
- Type: Three-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: A. & D.E. Bailey
- Dimensions: 145.2 ft (44.3 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 299.67 tons (approx. 271.9 metric tonnes)
- Location: Pilot Island, Lake Michigan, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Approximately 300 feet west of the cement boat dock, beginning in 20 feet of water
- Official Number: Not available
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Three-masted schooner (WTTW News)
Description
The A.P. Nichols was a wooden three-masted schooner constructed in 1861 by A. & D.E. Bailey in Madison, Ohio. Initially enrolled as a bark, she was rerigged as a schooner in 1878. Throughout her service, she transported various cargoes, including iron ore, grain, and wood, across the Great Lakes. The vessel experienced multiple incidents during her operational life, including collisions and fire damage. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
History
On October 28, 1892, while en route from Chicago to Escanaba, Michigan, the A.P. Nichols encountered a severe northwest gale. Seeking shelter, the crew attempted to anchor off Plum Island but were unsuccessful. The vessel drifted and ultimately stranded on the northwest shoal of Pilot Island. The crew managed to escape to the nearby lighthouse on Pilot Island, where they joined the crew of the previously wrecked schooner J.E. Gilmore. In March 1893, a subsequent storm destroyed the A.P. Nichols, breaking her apart and sinking her remains. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Significant Incidents
- Collisions and fire damage during operational life.
Final Disposition
The A.P. Nichols was declared a total loss following the March 1893 storm that broke her apart. There are no records indicating that any part of the vessel was salvaged.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreckage of the A.P. Nichols lies offshore of the northwest tip of Pilot Island in Lake Michigan, in a strait known as “Porte des Morts,” or “Death’s Door.” The debris is approximately 300 feet west of the cement boat dock, beginning in 20 feet of water and extending deeper. Many large sections of the vessel are present. (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Resources & Links
The A.P. Nichols’s wreck underscores the hazards faced by schooners navigating the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan, particularly in the area known as Death’s Door. While the vessel’s remains have not been located, her story contributes to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.