Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gibralter
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: L. Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Dimensions: 138 × 26 × 11 ft (42 × 8 × 3.4 m); 289 gross / 270 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 289 gross / 270 net tons
- Location: Near White Rock, Michigan
- Official Number: C83149
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Gibralter was a large wooden schooner-barge, lacking its own propulsion and relying on steam tugs to move bulk freight along the Great Lakes—standard practice in the late 19th century.
Description
Measuring approximately 42 m in length, she was sturdy enough to haul substantial freight, although vulnerable to sudden storms. The 1877 conversion from bark to schooner-barge indicates adaptation to the evolving Great Lakes cargo economy.
History
On 3 October 1888, while under tow during a Lake Huron storm near White Rock, Michigan, Gibralter dragged onto a shoal, grounded, and was battered into pieces by waves. Her crew reportedly evacuated without loss of life.
Significant Incidents
- On 3 October 1888, Gibralter was caught in a storm, stranded, and broke up on the shoal near White Rock, Michigan.
- No casualties were reported among the crew during the incident.
Final Disposition
The vessel was broken apart on the shoal and declared a total loss. Its remains likely lie scattered across the shoal area, either submerged or buried depending on changing lakebed conditions since 1888.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal wreck surveys or GPS-based site identifications have been recorded. The exact resting spot remains uncharted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gibralter-c-83149″ title=”References & Links”]
Gibralter, a large three-masted schooner-barge built in 1854 and converted in 1877, was grounded and destroyed in a storm on 3 October 1888 near White Rock, Michigan, Lake Huron. The crew escaped unharmed. The wreck remains uncharted, offering a potentially significant but unclaimed historical artifact in shallow shoal waters.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gibralter (also spelled Gibraltar, officially Gibralter)
- Official Number: C83149 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Vessel Type: Wooden three‑masted schooner‑barge (towed, non‑propelled)
- Built: 1854 by L. Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario; originally rigged as a bark and rebuilt as schooner‑barge in 1877 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Dimensions: 138 × 26 × 11 ft (42 × 8 × 3.4 m); 289 gross / 270 net tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo: Not specified in loss records
- Date Lost: 3 October 1888 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Location Lost: Near White Rock, Michigan (Lake Huron) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cause of Loss: Caught in a storm, stranded, and broke up on the shoal (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
Gibralter was a large wooden schooner-barge, lacking its own propulsion and relying on steam tugs to move bulk freight along the Great Lakes—standard practice in the late 19th century.
Description
Measuring approximately 42 m in length, she was sturdy enough to haul substantial freight, although vulnerable to sudden storms. The 1877 conversion from bark to schooner-barge indicates adaptation to the evolving Great Lakes cargo economy.
Final Voyage & Loss
On 3 October 1888, while under tow during a Lake Huron storm near White Rock, Michigan, Gibralter dragged onto a shoal, grounded, and was battered into pieces by waves. Her crew reportedly evacuated without loss of life (en.wikipedia.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
The vessel was broken apart on the shoal and declared a total loss. Its remains likely lie scattered across the shoal area, either submerged or buried depending on changing lakebed conditions since 1888.
Located By & Date Found
No formal wreck surveys or GPS-based site identifications have been recorded. The exact resting spot remains uncharted.
Notations & Advisories
- While Gibralter itself is unmarked, the shoal near White Rock continues to be charted as a maritime hazard—now informally linked to her wreck.
- The area is characterized by shallow reefs and requires navigation caution, though modern charting ensures safe transit for contemporary vessels.
Archival & Research Enhancement
To enrich the historical account and possibly locate the wreck:
- Local Newspaper Archives – October 1888:
Search Port Huron Times, Detroit Free Press, and Sarnia Observer for storm and grounding reports mentioning Gibralter. - Tow-boat Records:
Discover logs from tug operators, which may indicate towing route, storm timing, and grounding coordinates. - Maritime Insurance & Salvage Documentation:
Claim files could include technical drawings, survey sketches, or crew statements preserved in the Great Lakes maritime archive. - Hydrographic & Wreck Survey:
Consider contacting NOAA or Canada’s Hydrographic Service to verify if wreck data exists or schedule a side-scan survey of the shoal area.
Conclusion
Gibralter, a large three-masted schooner-barge built in 1854 and converted in 1877, was grounded and destroyed in a storm on 3 October 1888 near White Rock, Michigan, Lake Huron. The crew escaped unharmed. The wreck remains uncharted, offering a potentially significant but unclaimed historical artifact in shallow shoal waters.
gibralter-c-83149 1888-10-03 13:28:00