Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DREADNAUGHT
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Charles Luff
- Dimensions: Length: 66 ft (20.1 m); Beam: 19 ft (5.8 m); Depth of hold: 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 59 tons; Net Tonnage: 56 tons
- Location: Near Saugatuck, Michigan
- Official Number: 35270
- Original Owners: Captain Olsen of Milwaukee
- Number of Masts: Two-masted rig
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The DREADNAUGHT was a wooden-hulled schooner, possibly a scow-schooner, designed for transporting lumber across the Great Lakes.
Description
The DREADNAUGHT was constructed in 1867 by shipbuilder Charles Luff in Detroit, Michigan. Primarily designed for transporting lumber, she featured a two-masted rig and was built to navigate the challenging conditions of the Great Lakes. Some records suggest she may have been a scow-schooner, characterized by a flat-bottomed hull, which allowed for easier loading and unloading of cargo in shallow waters.
History
Throughout her operational life, the DREADNAUGHT was primarily engaged in the lumber trade, transporting timber from ports such as Washington Island to destinations like Milwaukee. On November 28, 1893, while en route from Washington Island to Milwaukee with a cargo of lumber, the vessel encountered severe weather conditions on Lake Michigan. The accumulation of ice on her upper structures rendered her unmanageable, causing her to drift approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) off Racine, Wisconsin. The steamer SYRACUSE discovered the stranded schooner and successfully rescued the two crew members aboard. Subsequently, the abandoned DREADNAUGHT drifted ashore near Saugatuck, Michigan. The combined value of the vessel and her cargo was estimated at a modest $725 at the time. Captain Olsen of Milwaukee served as both her master and owner during her final voyage.
Significant Incidents
- November 28, 1893: The DREADNAUGHT encountered severe weather on Lake Michigan, leading to her abandonment.
- Rescue of the crew by the steamer SYRACUSE.
- Drifted ashore near Saugatuck, Michigan.
Final Disposition
After the crew’s rescue, the DREADNAUGHT was left to drift and eventually grounded near Saugatuck, Michigan. Given the vessel’s low value and the circumstances of her stranding, it is likely that she was deemed a total loss and not recovered.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no records indicating that the wreck of the DREADNAUGHT has been located or surveyed to date. No navigational warnings or advisories related to the DREADNAUGHT wreck site are currently noted.
Resources & Links
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The DREADNAUGHT’s service life exemplifies the challenges faced by wooden schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. Despite the perils of ice accumulation and severe storms, vessels like the DREADNAUGHT were essential to the regional lumber industry, facilitating the transport of vital resources across the lakes.
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