Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Francis Palms
- Type: Wooden Schooner-Barque
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: Thomas Arnold
- Dimensions: 173 ft × 33 ft × 15 ft
- Registered Tonnage: approx. 560 tons
- Location: ~3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 9749
- Original Owners: Byron Whitaker & Son, Detroit; Master was Capt. Wilson
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Francis Palms was a wooden schooner-barque, originally built as a bark and later converted to a schooner rig.
Description
Constructed in 1868 at Marine City, Michigan, the Francis Palms measured 173 feet in length, 33 feet in beam, and had a depth of 15 feet. It was registered at approximately 560 tons.
History
The Francis Palms was owned by Byron Whitaker & Son of Detroit, with Capt. Wilson serving as its master. The vessel primarily transported cargo, including iron ore.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: November 2, 1889
- Location: ~3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Cargo: Iron ore
- Cause of Wreck: Grounded and broken up in gale
- Crew Casualties: None
- Rescue Vessel: Tug Gladiator
Final Disposition
The Francis Palms was driven ashore during a westerly gale and was pounded to pieces. The crew was successfully rescued by the tug Gladiator.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site remains a point of interest for divers, though specific conditions and accessibility details are not documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”francis-palms-us-9749″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Francis Palms serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by maritime vessels in the Great Lakes, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
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.
(Wooden Schooner‑Barque, built 1868; lost November 2, 1889)
Vessel Identity & Specifications
- Built: 1868 at Marine City, Michigan by Thomas Arnold as a bark; converted to schooner rig later
- Official Number: 9749
- Type & Size: Wooden schooner‑barque; 173 ft × 33 ft × 15 ft, approx. 560 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Ownership: Byron Whitaker & Son, Detroit; Master was Capt. Wilson (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Wreck (November 2, 1889)
- Route: Departed Escanaba, Michigan, bound for Detroit
- Cargo: Iron ore (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Loss Conditions: Caught in a westerly gale on Lake Michigan
- Incident: Driven ashore approximately 3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, near Beaver Island
- Outcome: Vessel pounded to pieces; crew was rescued by tug Gladiator (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None—crew was safely evacuated (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Loss Date | November 2, 1889 |
| Location | ~3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, Beaver Island, Lake Michigan |
| Cargo | Iron ore |
| Cause of Wreck | Grounded and broken up in gale |
| Crew Casualties | None |
| Rescue Vessel | Tug Gladiator |
Context & Significance
- The Francis Palms was a robust 560-ton freighter carrying heavy iron ore—difficult to handle in storms.
- Gray’s Reef, near Beaver Island, was a known shoal hazard—often poorly charted in the late 19th century.
- The rescue by Gladiator highlights well-coordinated maritime response in that era.
Further Research & Next Steps
- Weather & Gale Verification
- Access NOAA historical data for early November 1889 to confirm gale intensity.
- Newspaper Archival Search
- Look into Michigan/Illinois papers (e.g., Detroit Free Press, Traverse City Record-Eagle) around Nov 1889 for incident reports, crew statements, or salvage efforts.
- Hydrographic Chart Investigation
- Examine period charts to precisely locate Gray’s Reef and model wreck site using NOAA archives.
- Maritime Archaeology Records
- Check NOAA or Michigan maritime databases for sonar or dive survey data near Beaver Island that could document this wreck.
- Retrieving historic weather records for early-November 1889 storms?
- Searching newspaper archives for coverage of the wreck and rescue?
- Studying chart records and reef mapping to locate the wreck site?
- Exploring archaeological and wreck survey resources around Beaver Island?