Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Alice M. Beers
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Z. Pangborn, Algonac, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 105 ft (32.0 m); Beam 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 154 tons
- Location: Off the docks at Glen Arbor, Michigan
- Official Number: 382
- Original Owners: Henry Brander of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner
Description
The ALICE M. BEERS was a wooden two-masted schooner constructed in 1864 by Z. Pangborn in Algonac, Michigan. Designed for the lumber trade, she measured 105 feet (32.0 metres) in length, with a beam of 25 feet (7.6 metres) and a depth of 10 feet (3.0 metres), registering a gross tonnage of 154 tons. The vessel was owned by Henry Brander of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
History
On September 4, 1902, the ALICE M. BEERS was en route from Milwaukee to Glen Haven, Michigan, sailing light (without cargo). While hove to off the docks at Glen Arbor, Michigan, she encountered a gale. The vessel’s anchor slipped, causing her to drift onto a channel marker. The impact holed the hull, and the schooner subsequently drifted ashore, where she broke up. No casualties were reported among the crew.
The ALICE M. BEERS had a history of incidents prior to her final loss. She was reported sunk near Manistee, Michigan, in 1875, and underwent a rebuild in 1888. Additionally, sources indicate she was reported as a total loss in a storm on Lake Huron on September 17, 1893, and foundered near Alpena in 1895. One account suggests she was lost on the Cleveland breakwater in 1903, while others state she was abandoned in 1904.
Significant Incidents
- Reported sunk near Manistee, Michigan, in 1875.
- Rebuilt in 1888.
- Reported as a total loss in a storm on Lake Huron on September 17, 1893.
- Foundered near Alpena in 1895.
- One account suggests loss on the Cleveland breakwater in 1903.
- Other sources indicate abandonment in 1904.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after the 1902 storm incident, the ALICE M. BEERS broke up after drifting ashore near Glen Arbor, Michigan. There are no records indicating salvage operations or recovery efforts following the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil – The wreck of the ALICE M. BEERS has not been definitively located or confirmed in modern times.
Nil – No current navigational warnings or official markers exist for the wreck site of the ALICE M. BEERS in Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”alice-m-beers-us-382″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The ALICE M. BEERS serves as an example of the challenges faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Her multiple incidents and eventual loss underscore the perils of maritime navigation in the region, particularly the risks posed by sudden storms and the limitations of anchoring technology of the era.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
ALICE M. BEERS (1864–1902)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ALICE M. BEERS
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: 382
- Date Built and Launched: 1864
- Builder: Z. Pangborn, Algonac, Michigan
- Measurements:
- Length: 105 feet (32.0 metres)
- Beam: 25 feet (7.6 metres)
- Depth: 10 feet (3.0 metres)
- Gross Tonnage: 154 tons
- Net Tonnage: 147 tons
- Date Lost: September 4, 1902
- Cause: Storm
- Cargo at Time of Loss: None (light)
- Place of Loss: Off the docks at Glen Arbor, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Loss of Life: None(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Uplink, Archives West)
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner
Description
The ALICE M. BEERS was a wooden two-masted schooner constructed in 1864 by Z. Pangborn in Algonac, Michigan. Designed for the lumber trade, she measured 105 feet (32.0 metres) in length, with a beam of 25 feet (7.6 metres) and a depth of 10 feet (3.0 metres), registering a gross tonnage of 154 tons. The vessel was owned by Henry Brander of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
On September 4, 1902, the ALICE M. BEERS was en route from Milwaukee to Glen Haven, Michigan, sailing light (without cargo). While hove to off the docks at Glen Arbor, Michigan, she encountered a gale. The vessel’s anchor slipped, causing her to drift onto a channel marker. The impact holed the hull, and the schooner subsequently drifted ashore, where she broke up. No casualties were reported among the crew. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
The ALICE M. BEERS had a history of incidents prior to her final loss. She was reported sunk near Manistee, Michigan, in 1875, and underwent a rebuild in 1888. Additionally, sources indicate she was reported as a total loss in a storm on Lake Huron on September 17, 1893, and foundered near Alpena in 1895. One account suggests she was lost on the Cleveland breakwater in 1903, while others state she was abandoned in 1904. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after the 1902 storm incident, the ALICE M. BEERS broke up after drifting ashore near Glen Arbor, Michigan. There are no records indicating salvage operations or recovery efforts following the incident.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Located By & Date Found
Nil – The wreck of the ALICE M. BEERS has not been definitively located or confirmed in modern times.
Notmars & Advisories
Nil – No current navigational warnings or official markers exist for the wreck site of the ALICE M. BEERS in Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The ALICE M. BEERS serves as an example of the challenges faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Her multiple incidents and eventual loss underscore the perils of maritime navigation in the region, particularly the risks posed by sudden storms and the limitations of anchoring technology of the era.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: ALICE M. BEERS, Lake Michigan shipwreck, 1902 storm, wooden schooner, Glen Arbor maritime history
- Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime Disasters, Wooden Sailing Vessels
- Glossary Terms:
- Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically with the foremast shorter than the mainmast.
- Hove To: A sailing maneuver used to stop a vessel’s forward progress and maintain a stable position.
- Total Loss: A term indicating that a vessel is considered completely destroyed or beyond repair.
Note: If you require information on other shipwrecks or maritime history topics, feel free to ask.
alice-m-beers-us-382 1902-09-02 12:06:00