Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: General Worth
- Type: Brigantine / Schooner
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: William Treat
- Dimensions: Length 118 ft (35.97 m); Beam 25 ft (7.62 m); Depth of hold 10 ft (3.05 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 223.67 gross tons (post-1868)
- Location: Near Ahnapee, Wisconsin
- Official Number: US10150
- Original Owners: Various owners including N.M. Standart, Kane, and J.B. Lyon
- Number of Masts: Three masts (originally as a brigantine, later remeasured as a schooner)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Brigantine / Schooner (post-1868)Originally constructed as a three-masted brigantine — a square-rigged vessel with one or more fore-and-aft sails. In 1868, she was remeasured and registered as a schooner.
Description
Construction: WoodDecks: 1
Builder: William Treat
Build Location: Euclid, Ohio
Length: 118 ft (35.97 m)
Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m)
Depth: 10 ft (3.05 m)
Tonnage (Old Style): 257.71 tons
Tonnage (Post-1868): 223.67 gross tons (after rebuild)
History
1848: Enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio.1849, Oct 20: Collided with steamer SUPERIOR near Fox Island, Lake Michigan; repaired at Beaver Island.
1850, Jun 8: Collided with steamer LOUISIANA in the St. Clair River, suffering significant damage.
1852, Sep: Sprang a leak and water-damaged 150 bushels of wheat.
1854, Jul: One crew member died of cholera during transit from Buffalo to Cleveland.
1860: Registered in Buffalo; owned by N.M. Standart of Cleveland.
1863–1868: Passed through various owners in Buffalo; in 1868, rebuilt and remeasured as schooner (U.S. 10150).
1871: Owned by Kane of Buffalo.
1879: Owned by J.B. Lyon, Chicago.
1881, Sep 20: Collided with steamer BUFFALO off Waukegan, IL, Lake Michigan; damage repaired.
1895, Sep 10: Grounded during fog and gale winds near Ahnapee, Wisconsin; vessel broke up and was declared a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Collisions with steamers SUPERIOR and LOUISIANA.
- Grounding during fog and gale winds leading to total loss.
- One crew member perished during the cholera outbreak.
Final Disposition
The General Worth was lost during a gale while transporting lumber. Dense fog led to navigational errors, and the ship ran aground and subsequently broke up. One crew member perished. No record exists of salvage or recovery.Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no confirmed location or documented survey of the wreck site near Ahnapee.Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”general-worth-john-raber-us-10150″ title=”References & Links”]
The General Worth represents one of the longest-surviving early brigantines on the Great Lakes, serving from 1848 to 1895. Her history spans collisions, cholera outbreaks, and multiple ownerships — reflecting the hard service life of 19th-century cargo schooners. Her loss off Ahnapee underscores the hazards of late-season shipping on Lake Michigan.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.
*Year Built: 1848 | Official No.: US10150 (as of 1868 rebuild)
Identification & Site Informatio
Vessel Type
Brigantine / Schooner (post-1868)
Originally constructed as a three-masted brigantine — a square-rigged vessel with one or more fore-and-aft sails. In 1868, she was remeasured and registered as a schooner.
Description
- Construction: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Builder: William Treat
- Build Location: Euclid, Ohio
- Length: 118 ft (35.97 m)
- Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m)
- Depth: 10 ft (3.05 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 257.71 tons
- Tonnage (Post-1868): 223.67 gross tons (after rebuild)
History
- 1848: Enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1849, Oct 20: Collided with steamer SUPERIOR near Fox Island, Lake Michigan; repaired at Beaver Island.
- 1850, Jun 8: Collided with steamer LOUISIANA in the St. Clair River, suffering significant damage.
- 1852, Sep: Sprang a leak and water-damaged 150 bushels of wheat.
- 1854, Jul: One crew member died of cholera during transit from Buffalo to Cleveland.
- 1860: Registered in Buffalo; owned by N.M. Standart of Cleveland.
- 1863–1868: Passed through various owners in Buffalo; in 1868, rebuilt and remeasured as schooner (U.S. 10150).
- 1871: Owned by Kane of Buffalo.
- 1879: Owned by J.B. Lyon, Chicago.
- 1881, Sep 20: Collided with steamer BUFFALO off Waukegan, IL, Lake Michigan; damage repaired.
- 1895, Sep 10: Grounded during fog and gale winds near Ahnapee, Wisconsin; vessel broke up and was declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
The General Worth was lost during a gale while transporting lumber. Dense fog led to navigational errors, and the ship ran aground and subsequently broke up. One crew member perished. No record exists of salvage or recovery.
Located By & Date Found
There is no confirmed location or documented survey of the wreck site near Ahnapee.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Buffalo Daily News Archives
- Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Bowling Green State University
Conclusion
The General Worth represents one of the longest-surviving early brigantines on the Great Lakes, serving from 1848 to 1895. Her history spans collisions, cholera outbreaks, and multiple ownerships — reflecting the hard service life of 19th-century cargo schooners. Her loss off Ahnapee underscores the hazards of late-season shipping on Lake Michigan.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Tags: brigantine, schooner, wooden ship, Lake Michigan, fog loss, lumber cargo, 19th century
Glossary:
- Brigantine: A two- or three-masted sailing ship with mixed rig
- Rebuild: Refers to significant structural or dimensional changes to a vessel
- Fog Loss: Loss due to navigational error or grounding in dense fog conditions