Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

F.C. Clark (1849)

Explore the remains of the F.C. Clark, a two-masted brig that met its fate in a storm off the coast of Wisconsin in 1856.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: F.C. Clark
  • Type: Two-masted brig (wooden)
  • Year Built: 1849
  • Builder: St. Clair, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: None recorded
  • Location: Shore near Yorkville, approximately 2 miles south of Manitowoc north pier
  • Official Number: None recorded
  • Original Owners: Pierce & Bateman of Chicago
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Two-masted brig (wooden)

Description

Built: 1849, St. Clair, Michigan
Cargo at Loss: Coal

History

Chronology & Operational History

  • October 24, 1856
    Loaded with coal and lumber in Erie, bound for Chicago. Encountered a southwest gale and dense fog off Milwaukee. Driven ashore off Yorkville near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at about 11 pm. The brig “broke in twain,” constituting a total loss.
  • Spring 1857
    Wreck stripped by the steamer Troy during salvage operations.
  • Ownership & Command
    Owned by Pierce & Bateman of Chicago; Captain Bateman master at time of loss.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

  • October 24, 1856: Grounded and smashed in a gale; total loss.
  • Spring 1857: Salvage operations conducted by the steamer Troy.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: October 24, 1856
  • Location: Shore near Yorkville, approximately 2 miles south of Manitowoc north pier, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Grounded and smashed in a gale; “broke in twain”—total loss.
  • Casualties: None reported
  • Wreck Status: Hull destroyed on rocks; substantial salvage occurred the following spring; no remnants expected today.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Condition: Wreck disintegrated upon grounding; lifted and stripped by salvage—no intact structure remains.
  • Dive Potential: Non-divable; shallow coastal ribbing likely removed or scattered.
  • Modern Assessment: Shoreline upheaval and time have erased visible traces. Potential submerged debris near original grounding site may be buried under sediment.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”f-c-clark-1849″ title=”References & Links”]

F.C. CLARK was a mid-19th-century brig laden with coal that met its end on October 24, 1856. Driven ashore near Manitowoc during a severe storm, the vessel broke apart and was declared a total loss. Wreckage was salvaged the following spring, leaving little to no trace today. Further investigation through period newspapers, underwriter logs, and harbor records may yield operational details and images—if any still survive.

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.

Built: 1849, St. Clair, Michigan
Vessel Type: Two-masted brig (wooden)
Official Number: None recorded
Cargo at Loss: Coal

Chronology & Operational History

  • October 24, 1856
    Loaded with coal and lumber in Erie, bound for Chicago. Encountered a southwest gale and dense fog off Milwaukee. Driven ashore off Yorkville near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at about 11 pm. The brig “broke in twain,” constituting a total loss (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • Spring 1857
    Wreck stripped by the steamer Troy during salvage operations (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Ownership & Command
    Owned by Pierce & Bateman of Chicago; Captain Bateman master at time of loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: October 24, 1856
  • Location: Shore near Yorkville, approximately 2 miles south of Manitowoc north pier, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Grounded and smashed in a gale; “broke in twain”—total loss (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Casualties: None reported
  • Wreck Status: Hull destroyed on rocks; substantial salvage occurred the following spring; no remnants expected today.

Site & Dive Notes

  • Condition: Wreck disintegrated upon grounding; lifted and stripped by salvage—no intact structure remains
  • Dive Potential: Non-divable; shallow coastal ribbing likely removed or scattered
  • Modern Assessment: Shoreline upheaval and time have erased visible traces. Potential submerged debris near original grounding site may be buried under sediment.

Research Recommendations

To deepen the history and verify details:

  1. Newspapers (Winter 1856–1857): Look into Milwaukee Sentinel, Manitowoc Pilot, and Chicago Tribune for first-hand wreck and salvage reports.
  2. Underwriter Records: Board of Lake Underwriters may hold loss records or claim documentation regarding the F.C. CLARK.
  3. Port Records: Manitowoc Harbor logs or salvage filings for spring 1857 may list details on salvage work by Troy.
  4. Local Archives: Manitowoc County Historical Society archives or Wisconsin Marine Historical Society may hold maps, photos, or reports related to the wreck.

Archival Sources

Summary

F.C. CLARK was a mid-19th-century brig laden with coal that met its end on October 24, 1856. Driven ashore near Manitowoc during a severe storm, the vessel broke apart and was declared a total loss. Wreckage was salvaged the following spring, leaving little to no trace today. Further investigation through period newspapers, underwriter logs, and harbor records may yield operational details and images—if any still survive.

Let me know if you’d like assistance locating specific newspaper archives or underwriting documents from 1856–1857.

f-c-clark-1849 1856-10-24 15:56:00