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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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