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.

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Clarion
• Former Names: None
• Year Built and Launched: 1844
• Builder: John Richards, Erie, Pennsylvania
• Vessel Type: Brigantine
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Number of Masts: 2
• Tonnage (Old Measurement): 236 tons
• Date Lost: October 30, 1860
• Place of Loss: Skillagalee Reef, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Aground in a storm
• Final Cargo: Grain

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.

Her end came on October 30, 1860, when she ran hard aground on Skillagalee Reef in Lake Michigan during a storm, while carrying a load of grain. Despite efforts to salvage the vessel, reports from November 10, 1860, confirmed she remained stranded on the reef. The ship was eventually stripped of valuable materials and left to break apart in the elements.

Final Disposition:
The Clarion was stripped after running aground on Skillagalee Reef and ultimately went to pieces, marking the end of her operational life.

Located By & Date Found:
No confirmed modern discovery or documentation of the wreck site has been reported.

NOTMARs & Advisories:
Skillagalee Reef remains a known navigational hazard in Lake Michigan, though no specific advisories are directly linked to the Clarion.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
• C. Patrick Labadie Collection

Conclusion

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.

Keywords: Brigantine, Skillagalee Reef, Lake Michigan Shipwreck, Grain Transport, Locomotive Loss, Great Lakes Shipping
Categories: Great Lakes Brigantines, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History
Glossary Terms: Brigantine, Dismasting, Aground, Partial Rebuild, Deck Cargo

clarion-1844 1860-10-30 07:56:00