Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Kirk White US 14041

Explore the history of the Kirk White, a 19th-century brigantine that faced numerous challenges on the Great Lakes before its final sinking in Lake Huron.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: WHITE, KIRK
  • Type: Brigantine
  • Year Built: 1852
  • Builder: George Barber
  • Dimensions: Length: 100 ft (30.5 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 184 tons
  • Location: Sebewaing, Michigan
  • Official Number: 14041
  • Original Owners: Captain James Porter et al, Milwaukee, WI
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The WHITE, KIRK was a topsail schooner (brigantine) with two masts, designed for cargo work on the Great Lakes. Her rig allowed her to balance speed with capacity, a common configuration for lumber and general merchandise carriers in the mid-19th century.

Description

Identification & Site Information
Name: WHITE, KIRK
Official Number: 14041
Year Built: 1852
Built at: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hull Material: Wood

History

WHITE, KIRK had a checkered career almost from the start. She first sank at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1852, the year she was built. In 1854, she collided in fog with the steamer TRAVELER on Lake Michigan and was laid up for four years, indicating significant repairs.

She grounded twice in 1856 near Milwaukee, one time springing a leak and sinking again in the harbour. After repairs and refits in 1860 at Wolf & Lawrence’s dry dock, she returned to service, moving through various owners including Brown of Milwaukee in 1863, and Reeves et al. of Detroit by 1866.

In 1867, she was converted to a barge, reflecting a common trend of repurposing aging sailing vessels to carry bulk cargo under tow. Her final voyage ended on 14 October 1869 when she became waterlogged in a gale and sank at the piers of Pinnepog (modern Sebewaing), in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, while carrying lumber.

Significant Incidents

  • First sank at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1852.
  • Collided with the steamer TRAVELER in 1854, leading to significant repairs.
  • Grounded twice in 1856, one incident resulting in sinking in the harbour.
  • Converted to a barge in 1867.
  • Sank in Saginaw Bay on 14 October 1869 due to waterlogging in a gale.

Final Disposition

Waterlogged and sank in a gale at Sebewaing, Michigan, on 14 October 1869.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Presumed broken up or buried; no formal surveys reported.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”kirk-white-us-14041″ title=”References & Links”]

WHITE, KIRK reflects the difficult working life of Great Lakes schooners and brigantines, having survived multiple sinkings, collisions, and groundings before finally succumbing in Saginaw Bay. Her repeated refits show how durable and adaptable these working vessels were, serving the booming lumber and grain trades of the 19th century.

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.

Identification & Site Information
Name: WHITE, KIRK
Official Number: 14041
Year Built: 1852
Built at: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Vessel Type: Brigantine (noted as a topsail schooner)
Hull Material: Wood
Builder: George Barber
Original Owner: Captain James Porter et al, Milwaukee, WI

Dimensions
Length: 100 ft (30.5 m)
Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m)
Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Tonnage (old style): 184 tons

Power
Number of Masts: 2

Vessel Type Description
The WHITE, KIRK was a topsail schooner (brigantine) with two masts, designed for cargo work on the Great Lakes. Her rig allowed her to balance speed with capacity, a common configuration for lumber and general merchandise carriers in the mid-19th century.

History
WHITE, KIRK had a checkered career almost from the start. She first sank at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1852, the year she was built. In 1854, she collided in fog with the steamer TRAVELER on Lake Michigan and was laid up for four years, indicating significant repairs.

She grounded twice in 1856 near Milwaukee, one time springing a leak and sinking again in the harbour. After repairs and refits in 1860 at Wolf & Lawrence’s dry dock, she returned to service, moving through various owners including Brown of Milwaukee in 1863, and Reeves et al. of Detroit by 1866.

In 1867, she was converted to a barge, reflecting a common trend of repurposing aging sailing vessels to carry bulk cargo under tow. Her final voyage ended on 14 October 1869 when she became waterlogged in a gale and sank at the piers of Pinnepog (modern Sebewaing), in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, while carrying lumber.

Final Disposition
Waterlogged and sank in a gale at Sebewaing, Michigan, on 14 October 1869.

NOTMARs & Advisories
None noted.

Located By & Date
No official discovery or dive documentation confirmed.

Current Condition & Accessibility
Presumed broken up or buried; no formal surveys reported.

Resources & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Bowling Green State University Vessels Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion
WHITE, KIRK reflects the difficult working life of Great Lakes schooners and brigantines, having survived multiple sinkings, collisions, and groundings before finally succumbing in Saginaw Bay. Her repeated refits show how durable and adaptable these working vessels were, serving the booming lumber and grain trades of the 19th century.

Keywords: Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay, brigantine, topsail schooner, 19th-century shipwreck, lumber trade, Milwaukee-built

kirk-white-us-14041 1869-10-14 17:46:00