Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: L.C. Woodruff
- Type: Three-Masted Wooden Bark
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: F.N. Jones, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: 170 ft (51.8 m); Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m); Depth of hold: 13 ft (4.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 549 tons
- Location: 1 mile north of White Lake Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 14609
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The L.C. Woodruff was a three-masted wooden bark, designed for bulk cargo transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
The L.C. Woodruff was built in 1866 in Buffalo, New York, by F.N. Jones. The vessel primarily carried grain, coal, lumber, and other freight between major lake ports, particularly Chicago and Buffalo. Like many wooden sailing ships of the time, the L.C. Woodruff faced numerous challenges from the unpredictable weather on the Great Lakes.
History
Final Voyage & Loss (November 1, 1878): The L.C. Woodruff was en route from Chicago to Buffalo with a cargo of corn. As a powerful autumn storm swept across Lake Michigan, the vessel sought shelter near White Lake Harbor. The storm intensified, and strong winds and waves forced the vessel aground about one mile north of White Lake Harbor. The ship quickly began breaking apart, stranding the crew onboard in desperate conditions.
Significant Incidents
- Fatalities During the Rescue Attempt: A whip-line was set up to carry a hawser (towline) to shore, but three crew members attempted to use it to reach land before the Lifesaving Service was ready. They were lost in the rough waters, unable to complete the crossing. The remaining crew clung to the rigging until the U.S. Lifesaving Service completed a rescue. On that same day, five other wrecks occurred nearby, and the Lifesaving Service saved 29 people in total.
Final Disposition
In January 1879, significant pieces of wreckage washed ashore near the White Lake Lighthouse. The shifting dunes buried most of the remains, and no definitive wreck site had been identified for many years. In late 2018, new wreckage appeared on the shore, and some believe it is from the L.C. Woodruff. However, some historians remain uncertain about this identification, suggesting that further analysis is required.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The area north of White Lake Harbor continues to be monitored for possible remains. Given the vessel’s wooden construction, much of the wreckage may have deteriorated or been buried under shifting sands.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-c-woodruff-us-14609″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The L.C. Woodruff was a three-masted wooden bark built in 1866, primarily used for grain transport on the Great Lakes. Caught in a violent November storm in 1878, she ran aground near White Lake Harbor, and three crew members tragically drowned during an early rescue attempt. Though significant wreckage washed ashore in early 1879, shifting sands have concealed most of the ship’s remains. The 2018 discovery of wooden remains near White Lake Harbor suggests that parts of the wreck may still be intact beneath the dunes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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