Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Henry C. Richards
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: H.B. Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 188.8 ft (57.5 m); 32.7 ft (10.0 m); 13 ft (4.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 699 gross, 664 net
- Location: Near Little Point Sable, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 95257
- Original Owners: Jonah Richards, Manitowoc
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A large bulk-hauling schooner built during the twilight of sail-powered merchant vessels on the Great Lakes, capable of transporting lumber, coal, ore, or general cargo.
Description
• Wooden hull, centreboard schooner
• Three-masted rig suitable for heavy freight
• Designed for size and durability, representing the upper echelon of wooden cargo schooners of the era
History
• 1876, Aug – Collided with a bridge at Manitowoc, WI
• Oct 1880 – Driven ashore in North Bay
• Nov 1883 – Aground near Chicago with 1,150 tons of coal
• 1889, Jul – Towed by Rube Richards and May Richards; later chartered on Lake Erie–Duluth ore routes
• 1892 – Towed by George Presley on further service routes
• Repeated use and towing reflect her role as a mainstay in the late-sail lumber and ore transport trades.
Significant Incidents
• 10 Oct 1895 – While in tow of the steamer H.C. Tuttle near Little Point Sable, Lake Michigan, caught in a gale and blizzard; began foundering.
• Crew were all rescued by White Lake Lifesaving Service.
• Foundering noted in Manitowoc shipwreck records.
Final Disposition
Loss came late in the sail era, showing the hazards faced by towed schooners in severe weather. Crew saved; no fatalities reported, demonstrating established life-saving operations (White Lake station).
Current Condition & Accessibility
No current navigational warnings; wreck likely sank to depth or was salvaged. Wreck not rediscovered in modern surveys. Historical records, including Manitoba shipwreck databases, confirm the loss site near Little Point Sable.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”henry-c-richards-us-95257″ title=”References & Links”]
The Henry C. Richards was a resilient late-19th-century Great Lakes schooner, whose final voyage highlights both the endurance and fragility of sail-powered freighters. Her grounding on Little Point Sable amid a severe storm and safe crew rescue underscore the ongoing maritime challenges and survival infrastructure of the era.
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
- Vessel name: Henry C. Richards
- Official Number: 95257
- Year built: 1873
- Builder: H.B. Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Original owner: Jonah Richards, Manitowoc
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner, single deck
- Dimensions: 188.8 ft (57.5 m) length × 32.7 ft (10.0 m) beam × 13 ft (4.0 m) depth
- Tonnage: 699 gross, 664 net
Vessel Type
A large bulk-hauling schooner built during the twilight of sail-powered merchant vessels on the Great Lakes, capable of transporting lumber, coal, ore, or general cargo.
Construction & Description
• Wooden hull, centreboard schooner
• Three-masted rig suitable for heavy freight
• Designed for size and durability, representing the upper echelon of wooden cargo schooners of the era
Career & Operational History
- 1876, Aug – Collided with a bridge at Manitowoc, WI
- Oct 1880 – Driven ashore in North Bay
- Nov 1883 – Aground near Chicago with 1,150 tons of coal
- 1889, Jul – Towed by Rube Richards and May Richards; later chartered on Lake Erie–Duluth ore routes
- 1892 – Towed by George Presley on further service routes
- Repeated use and towing reflect her role as a mainstay in the late-sail lumber and ore transport trades
Final Disposition & Wreck Details
- 10 Oct 1895 – While in tow of the steamer H.C. Tuttle near Little Point Sable, Lake Michigan, caught in a gale and blizzard; began foundering
- Crew were all rescued by White Lake Lifesaving Service
- Foundering Seattle 16 mi off Little Point Sable noted in Manitowoc shipwreck records (2manitowoc.com, 2manitowoc.com, linkstothepast.com, NPS History)
Toll & Impact
- Loss came late in the sail era, showing the hazards faced by towed schooners in severe weather
- Crew saved; no fatalities reported, demonstrating established life-saving operations (White Lake station)
Notmars & Advisories
- No current navigational warnings; wreck likely sank to depth or was salvaged
Located By & Date Found
- Wreck not rediscovered in modern surveys
- Historical records, including Manitoba shipwreck databases, confirm the loss site near Little Point Sable
Conclusion
The Henry C. Richards was a resilient late‑19th‑century Great Lakes schooner, whose final voyage highlights both the endurance and fragility of sail-powered freighters. Her grounding on Little Point Sable amid a severe storm and safe crew rescue underscore the ongoing maritime challenges and survival infrastructure of the era.
Resources & Links
- Manitowoc County shipwreck database – loss recorded off Little Point Sable (2manitowoc.com)
- Linkstothepast.com – listing of Henry C. Richards wreck (linkstothepast.com)
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum photo archive – images of schooner in Manitowoc harbor (wisconsinmaritime.pastperfectonline.com)