Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Clarion
- Type: Brigantine
- Year Built: 1844
- Builder: John Richards, Erie, Pennsylvania
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 236 tons
- Location: Skillagalee Reef, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not available
- Original Owners: A.T. Skinner of Milan, Ohio (1860)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden brigantine, commonly used in the mid-19th century for cargo transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Clarion was a wooden brigantine built in 1844 in Erie, Pennsylvania by John Richards. With two masts and a traditional square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged mainmast, brigantines like the Clarion were versatile vessels, popular for their speed and ease of handling. At 236 tons, she was a mid-sized cargo carrier, well-suited for the booming trade on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century.
History
The Clarion had a colourful and eventful operational history, reflecting the hazards and demands of Great Lakes shipping during her time. By 1847, just a few years after her launch, she suffered her first major mishap when she was dismasted off Erie, Pennsylvania. She was later enrolled at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania in 1849.
In a notable incident on November 29, 1851, the Clarion lost two locomotives that had been secured on her deck while navigating Lake Michigan, a testament to the heavy and varied cargoes these vessels were often tasked with transporting. This loss highlighted the risks of deck-loading heavy machinery on vessels not originally designed for such cargo.
By 1857, the Clarion underwent a partial rebuild in Milan, Ohio, and was subsequently enrolled in Sandusky. Ownership by A.T. Skinner of Milan, Ohio began in 1860. That same year, on May 4, she lost her topmast off Milwaukee, indicating ongoing structural challenges that may have weakened her for her final voyage.
Significant Incidents
Significant incidents in the history of the Clarion include:
- Dismasted off Erie, Pennsylvania in 1847.
- Loss of two locomotives on November 29, 1851, while navigating Lake Michigan.
- Lost her topmast off Milwaukee on May 4, 1860.
Final Disposition
The Clarion was stripped after running aground on Skillagalee Reef and ultimately went to pieces, marking the end of her operational life.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed modern discovery or documentation of the wreck site has been reported. Skillagalee Reef remains a known navigational hazard in Lake Michigan, though no specific advisories are directly linked to the Clarion.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”clarion-1844″ title=”References & Links”]
The Clarion‘s operational history exemplifies the perils of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping, from dismasting and cargo losses to eventual destruction on Skillagalee Reef. Her role in transporting heavy goods, including locomotives and grain, highlights the essential but hazardous work of these wooden brigantines. While her wreck remains unlocated, her story is a part of the vast maritime legacy of Lake Michigan.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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