Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: HUNGARIAN
- Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Asa Wilcox, Three Mile Bay, New York
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 363 tons
- Location: Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 11177
- Original Owners: David Dall
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally constructed as a bark, the HUNGARIAN was later converted into a three-masted wooden schooner. Both vessel types were common for bulk freight transport, particularly for commodities like wood, grain, and other raw materials in the Great Lakes trade.
Description
The HUNGARIAN was built in 1853 by Asa Wilcox in Three Mile Bay, New York, a region known for its Great Lakes shipbuilding. The vessel was initially configured as a bark, a sailing ship with three or more masts, but by 1871 it had been rebuilt and converted into a schooner, reflecting the adaptability required to extend the operational life of older ships.
With a gross tonnage of 363 tons, the HUNGARIAN was a medium-sized freight carrier designed to transport bulk materials. By the late 19th century, vessels of this size were essential in the bustling trade networks across the Great Lakes, delivering timber and other goods to industrial centers like Chicago.
The vessel was owned by David Dall of Chicago, with P. W. Costello serving as its master at the time of its final voyage.
History
The HUNGARIAN served for nearly three decades on the Great Lakes, a testament to the durability of ships constructed during this era. The vessel’s rebuild in 1871 likely extended its operational life, modernizing its structure and adapting it for the evolving demands of freight transport.
By 1880, the HUNGARIAN was actively engaged in the wood trade, transporting timber from the forested regions around the lakes to rapidly growing urban areas. The vessel’s owner, David Dall, was likely involved in the lumber industry, which was a cornerstone of Chicago’s economy in the late 19th century.
Significant Incidents
On October 18, 1880, while carrying a load of wood, the HUNGARIAN encountered a severe gale in Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan. The vessel was driven onto a rocky shore by the storm and sustained catastrophic damage, becoming a total loss.
Following the wreck, the ship’s outfit was recovered, indicating that some of the vessel’s equipment and fittings were salvaged. However, the damage to the hull was beyond repair. The vessel was officially abandoned on November 1, 1880, and its documentation was surrendered in Chicago on November 15, 1880.
There is no detailed information regarding loss of life in the incident, suggesting either that the crew survived or that such details were not well-documented at the time.
Final Disposition
There are no confirmed reports of the wreck of the HUNGARIAN being located in Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan. Given the nature of the wreck—driven ashore and broken up—it is possible that remnants of the vessel still exist along the shoreline or submerged nearby.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in Whitefish Bay.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”hungarian-us-11177″ title=”References & Links”]
The HUNGARIAN‘s nearly 30-year history reflects the evolution of Great Lakes shipping, transitioning from a bark to a schooner as maritime technology and trade demands changed. Its final wreck in Whitefish Bay illustrates the persistent dangers of Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather and rocky shores, which have claimed countless vessels over the years. While specific details about casualties remain unclear, the vessel’s abandonment and the surrender of its documents mark a definitive end to its service in the thriving Great Lakes timber trade.
If you’d like to explore more about shipwrecks in Whitefish Bay or the broader Great Lakes lumber trade, let me know!
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: HUNGARIAN
- Other Names: None reported
- Official Number: 11177
- Date Built and Launched: 1853
- Builder: Asa Wilcox, Three Mile Bay, New York
- Original Type: Bark
- Converted Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
- Measurements:
- Gross Tonnage: 363 tons
- Rebuilds: Rebuilt in 1871
- Date Lost: October 18, 1880
- Place of Loss: Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan
- Lake: Michigan
Vessel Type
Originally constructed as a bark, the HUNGARIAN was later converted into a three-masted wooden schooner. Both vessel types were common for bulk freight transport, particularly for commodities like wood, grain, and other raw materials in the Great Lakes trade.
Description
The HUNGARIAN was built in 1853 by Asa Wilcox in Three Mile Bay, New York, a region known for its Great Lakes shipbuilding. The vessel was initially configured as a bark, a sailing ship with three or more masts, but by 1871 it had been rebuilt and converted into a schooner, reflecting the adaptability required to extend the operational life of older ships.
With a gross tonnage of 363 tons, the HUNGARIAN was a medium-sized freight carrier designed to transport bulk materials. By the late 19th century, vessels of this size were essential in the bustling trade networks across the Great Lakes, delivering timber and other goods to industrial centers like Chicago.
The vessel was owned by David Dall of Chicago, with P. W. Costello serving as its master at the time of its final voyage.
History
The HUNGARIAN served for nearly three decades on the Great Lakes, a testament to the durability of ships constructed during this era. The vessel’s rebuild in 1871 likely extended its operational life, modernizing its structure and adapting it for the evolving demands of freight transport.
By 1880, the HUNGARIAN was actively engaged in the wood trade, transporting timber from the forested regions around the lakes to rapidly growing urban areas. The vessel’s owner, David Dall, was likely involved in the lumber industry, which was a cornerstone of Chicago’s economy in the late 19th century.
Final Disposition
On October 18, 1880, while carrying a load of wood, the HUNGARIAN encountered a severe gale in Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan. The vessel was driven onto a rocky shore by the storm and sustained catastrophic damage, becoming a total loss.
Following the wreck, the ship’s outfit was recovered, indicating that some of the vessel’s equipment and fittings were salvaged. However, the damage to the hull was beyond repair. The vessel was officially abandoned on November 1, 1880, and its documentation was surrendered in Chicago on November 15, 1880.
There is no detailed information regarding loss of life in the incident, suggesting either that the crew survived or that such details were not well-documented at the time.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the wreck of the HUNGARIAN being located in Whitefish Bay, Lake Michigan. Given the nature of the wreck—driven ashore and broken up—it is possible that remnants of the vessel still exist along the shoreline or submerged nearby.
Notmars & Advisories
Nil return. No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in Whitefish Bay.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The HUNGARIAN‘s nearly 30-year history reflects the evolution of Great Lakes shipping, transitioning from a bark to a schooner as maritime technology and trade demands changed. Its final wreck in Whitefish Bay illustrates the persistent dangers of Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather and rocky shores, which have claimed countless vessels over the years. While specific details about casualties remain unclear, the vessel’s abandonment and the surrender of its documents mark a definitive end to its service in the thriving Great Lakes timber trade.
If you’d like to explore more about shipwrecks in Whitefish Bay or the broader Great Lakes lumber trade, let me know!
hungarian-us-11177 1880-10-18 07:56:00