Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Frank Perew
- Type: Wooden schooner barge
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Unconfirmed, likely Cleveland or Detroit
- Dimensions: Estimated length 130-150 ft (40-45 m); Beam approx. 26 ft (8 m); Depth of hold unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 300-400 tons
- Location: Lake Michigan, near South Fox Island
- Coordinates: Not precisely charted
- Official Number: Not conclusively documented
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Retained masts as a schooner barge
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Frank Perew was originally a standard wooden schooner, later converted to a schooner barge to be towed behind steam tugs, reflecting the shift in shipping economics of the late 1800s. Her robust build made her suitable for heavy bulk cargoes like coal.
Description
Built of oak with iron fastenings, the Frank Perew had a large, open hold, reinforced deck beams, and strong hatches typical for coal transport. As a schooner barge, she retained her masts but relied primarily on the towline of a tug for power.
History
In late September 1891, while under tow by the tug N.K. Fairbank, the Frank Perew was carrying a cargo of coal on Lake Michigan when she encountered a severe gale. Waves stove in her deck hatches, rapidly flooding the hold.
The crew attempted to abandon ship, taking to their yawl. Six of the seven men on board managed to reach safety, but one was lost in the storm. The Perew then broke completely away from the tug’s tow and sank.
Some confusion exists in records suggesting she was “wrecked ashore on South Fox Island” in October 1873; however, the majority of sources — including the David Swayze Shipwreck File — confirm the final foundering was September 29, 1891, off South Fox Island, after separating from the N.K. Fairbank. The 1873 reference is an unrelated mishap in which she was damaged but refloated.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in a storm on September 29, 1891, while under tow by the tug N.K. Fairbank.
- One crew member lost during the abandonment attempt.
- Confusion in records regarding a previous incident in October 1873.
Final Disposition
The Perew was declared a total loss. No salvage attempt is documented, and no confirmed modern survey has relocated her remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, the wreck has not been conclusively located. The approximate loss area off South Fox Island is well known among researchers but unsurveyed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”frank-perew-1867″ title=”References & Links”]
The Frank Perew represents the many schooner barges that met their fate in sudden Lake Michigan storms while carrying coal. Her loss under tow, with the crew forced to abandon ship, highlights the high risks faced by barge crews in an era before reliable weather forecasting and watertight hatches.
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.
Frank Perew (Launched 1867)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): Frank Perew
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Unconfirmed, but likely Cleveland or Detroit (common for schooners of this period)
- Registration Number: Not conclusively documented
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner barge
- Dimensions: Estimated length 40–45 m (130–150 feet); beam approx. 8 m (26 feet); tonnage approx. 300–400 tons
- Final Resting Place: Lake Michigan, foundered near South Fox Island
- Coordinates: Not precisely charted
- Date Lost: 29 September 1891 (also reported in error as 25 October 1891)
- Depth: Presumed moderate water (wreck never conclusively surveyed)
Vessel Type
The Frank Perew was originally a standard wooden schooner, later converted to a schooner barge to be towed behind steam tugs, reflecting the shift in shipping economics of the late 1800s. Her robust build made her suitable for heavy bulk cargoes like coal.
Description
Built of oak with iron fastenings, the Frank Perew had a large, open hold, reinforced deck beams, and strong hatches typical for coal transport. As a schooner barge, she retained her masts but relied primarily on the towline of a tug for power.
History
In late September 1891, while under tow by the tug N.K. Fairbank, the Frank Perew was carrying a cargo of coal on Lake Michigan when she encountered a severe gale. Waves stove in her deck hatches, rapidly flooding the hold.
The crew attempted to abandon ship, taking to their yawl. Six of the seven men on board managed to reach safety, but one was lost in the storm. The Perew then broke completely away from the tug’s tow and sank.
Some confusion exists in records suggesting she was “wrecked ashore on South Fox Island” in October 1873; however, the majority of sources — including the David Swayze Shipwreck File — confirm the final foundering was September 29, 1891, off South Fox Island, after separating from the N.K. Fairbank. The 1873 reference is an unrelated mishap in which she was damaged but refloated.
Final Dispositions
The Perew was declared a total loss. No salvage attempt is documented, and no confirmed modern survey has relocated her remains.
Located By & Date Found
As of current records, the wreck has not been conclusively located. The approximate loss area off South Fox Island is well known among researchers but unsurveyed.
Notmars & Advisories
No current Notmar warnings apply in the area specific to the Frank Perew.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database – BGSU
- David Swayze Shipwreck File (cross-referenced for date discrepancies)
Conclusion
The Frank Perew represents the many schooner barges that met their fate in sudden Lake Michigan storms while carrying coal. Her loss under tow, with the crew forced to abandon ship, highlights the high risks faced by barge crews in an era before reliable weather forecasting and watertight hatches.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Frank Perew, schooner barge, coal cargo, 1891 shipwreck, Lake Michigan, South Fox Island
- Categories: Great Lakes schooner barges, Lake Michigan wrecks, storm losses, coal trade
- Glossary Terms: schooner barge, towline, foundered, constructive total loss, yawl boat