Hustler – Lake Michigan Schooner Shipwreck (1912)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: HUSTLER
• Type: Schooner, wood-hulled
• Year Built: 1893
• Builder: Detroit, Michigan
• Dimensions: 44 ft (13.4 m); Beam: 11 ft (3.4 m); Depth of hold: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 13 gross tons, 11 net tons
• Location: Unreported location on Lake Michigan
• Official Number: 96219
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner

Description

The HUSTLER was a small, wooden-hulled schooner built in 1893 in Detroit, Michigan. Initially measuring 38 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 9 tons, the vessel was later modified to a length of 44 feet and a gross tonnage of 13 tons, suggesting possible repairs or retrofits to improve her capacity or seaworthiness. Due to her modest size, the HUSTLER likely served in light commercial duties, such as transporting small cargoes along the Wisconsin and Michigan shores of Lake Michigan, or possibly operating as a workboat or fishing vessel.

Her homeport was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, indicating that she was part of the vibrant local maritime economy, which included fishing, small-scale freight, and support roles for larger shipping operations.

History

Detailed records of the HUSTLER‘s operational history are limited, reflecting her likely role as a small commercial vessel on Lake Michigan. Schooners of this size were common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often used for transporting goods between smaller ports that larger freighters couldn’t access or for specific local industries like fishing or supplying remote communities.

On November 8, 1912, the HUSTLER was lost to a fire on Lake Michigan. The exact location of the incident is unreported, and there are no detailed accounts of the circumstances surrounding the fire. However, fires aboard wooden vessels were a common hazard during this era, often caused by accidental ignition in the galley, engine issues (if auxiliary power was used), or cargo-related fires.

At the time of the incident, the vessel had two crew members, both of whom survived the fire. It remains unclear whether the HUSTLER was carrying cargo at the time of her loss or was engaged in other activities such as fishing or transport.

Significant Incidents

• Lost to fire on November 8, 1912, on Lake Michigan.
• Exact location of the incident is unreported.
• Both crew members survived the fire.

Final Disposition

Lost to fire on Lake Michigan on November 8, 1912. The exact location of the wreck is unreported. The vessel was a total loss, but both crew members survived.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of the HUSTLER wreck being located.

Resources & Links

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The HUSTLER‘s story represents the often-overlooked role of small schooners in the Great Lakes maritime economy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While larger freighters dominated the headlines, vessels like the HUSTLER were essential to local trade, fishing, and regional transport. Her loss to fire in 1912 is a reminder of the dangers faced by wooden vessels, even in seemingly routine operations. Though her exact wreck site remains unknown, the HUSTLER is part of the broader tapestry of Lake Michigan shipwreck history, highlighting the everyday risks faced by mariners on the Great Lakes.