Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: F.L. Danforth
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner (bulk freight)
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: F.N. Jones Shipyard
- Dimensions: 193 ft × 34 ft × 14 ft; 715 GRT / 679 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 715 GRT / 679 NRT
- Location: Near Chicago, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 17746
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A large wooden bulk freight schooner, the F.L. Danforth was built for heavy cargo hauls—ideal for transporting agricultural commodities like corn across the Great Lakes.
Description
Launched in 1872, she served over two decades in bulk freight transport. On the morning of 20 April 1893, while under tow by the steamer A. P. Wright, she encountered a gale near Chicago. The towline parted and the vessel was driven ashore by the storm. She broke apart on the seabed and was declared a total loss, though all 10 crew members were safely rescued.
History
The F.L. Danforth was wrecked and scattered on the shoreline due to the storm and surf action. Salvage was deemed impractical, and the remains were abandoned.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel was lost on 20 April 1893 during a tow operation in a gale.
- All 10 crew members were rescued without injury.
Final Disposition
The wreck was noted soon after the incident, but no precise coordinates or modern surveys have been documented. No formal navigational markers currently indicate her site. The Chicago coastline, especially in early spring, remains prone to storm-driven hazards.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck remains uncharted, representing the persistent dangers of early towing operations on Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”f-l-danforth-us-17746″ title=”References & Links”]
The F.L. Danforth, a 193-ft schooner built in 1872, was lost on 20 April 1893 during a tow operation when she foundered and broke up near Chicago in a gale. Her cargo of corn was likely destroyed, but her crew of ten survived without injury.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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