Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

L. J. Conway US 15955

Explore the tragic story of the L. J. Conway, a wooden schooner wrecked in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1886, claiming all five crew members.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: L. J. Conway
  • Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1873
  • Builder: J. M. Jones
  • Dimensions: ~80 × 22 × 6 ft; 90 gt
  • Registered Tonnage: 90 gt
  • Location: Near Flower Creek, north of White Lake, Michigan
  • Official Number: 15955
  • Original Owners: Henderson & Peterson, Muskegon, Michigan
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Two-masted wooden schooner

Description

The L. J. Conway was a wooden schooner built in 1873 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by J. M. Jones. It measured approximately 80 feet in length, 22 feet in beam, and had a hold depth of 6 feet. The vessel was registered with the official number 15955 and had a gross tonnage of 90.

History

The L. J. Conway was owned by Henderson & Peterson of Muskegon, Michigan. The master of the vessel was Captain Thomas Smith, who was based in Muskegon.

Significant Incidents

  • Date & Route: Wrecked November 17, 1886, bound from Chicago to Muskegon carrying corn and oats.
  • Weather: Caught in a fierce storm/blizzard on Lake Michigan near Flower Creek, north of White Lake (~7 miles north of Whitehall).
  • Action Taken: Crew dropped three anchors but were unable to hold; vessel was driven ashore, smashed and torn apart by waves.
  • Casualties: All 5 crew perished—crew washed ashore, some bodies found days later (including Captain Smith near Montague); a widow and four children were left behind.
  • Value Loss: No insurance on vessel or cargo.

Final Disposition

The bodies and wreck were discovered several days after grounding; local bystanders noted the destruction. The loss—especially the uninsured cargo and crew fatalities—caused hardship for families and illustrated the dangers faced by small schooners. The wreckage likely broke up and disappeared quickly due to powerful wave action.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, but it is presumed that the wreckage has deteriorated significantly due to wave action and time.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”l-j-conway-us-15955″ title=”References & Links”]

The L. J. Conway succumbed to a violent November 17, 1886 blizzard on Lake Michigan while carrying corn and oats, stranded near Flower Creek. Despite attempts to anchor, all five aboard perished. The wreck remains emblematic of the hazards of late-season Great Lakes shipping and the vulnerabilities of small sail-powered freighters.

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.

Built 1873 – Wrecked November 17, 1886

Identification & Vessel Overview

  • Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Built: 1873 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by J. M. Jones
  • Official Number: 15955
  • Dimensions: ~80 × 22 × 6 ft; 90 gt
  • Owner: Henderson & Peterson, Muskegon, Michigan
  • Master: Captain Thomas Smith (Muskegon)
    (us-data.org)

Final Voyage & Shipwreck

  • Date & Route: Wrecked November 17, 1886, bound from Chicago to Muskegon carrying corn and oats
  • Weather: Caught in a fierce storm/blizzard on Lake Michigan near Flower Creek, north of White Lake (~7 miles north of Whitehall)
  • Action Taken: Crew dropped three anchors but were unable to hold; vessel was driven ashore, smashed and torn apart by waves
  • Casualties: All 5 crew perished—crew washed ashore, some bodies found days later (including Captain Smith near Montague); a widow and four children were left behind
  • Value Loss: No insurance on vessel or cargo
    (Wikipedia, us-data.org)

Aftermath & Significance

  • The bodies and wreck were discovered several days after grounding; local bystanders noted the destruction
  • The loss—especially the uninsured cargo and crew fatalities—caused hardship for families and illustrated the dangers faced by small schooners
  • The wreckage likely broke up and disappeared quickly due to powerful wave action
    (us-data.org, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“L. J. Conway”)—build, ownership, loss details, storm description, total loss with fatalities
  • Contemporary Newspapers—Pentwater News (25 November 1886) and Bluffton Weekly Chronicle (2 December 1886) reporting crew loss and Captain Smith’s body recovery
    (us-data.org)

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Crew Rosters & Identities: Search maritime registry entries and Muskegon obituaries for crew names
  • Local Press: Obtain full archival copies of Pentwater News and Bluffton Weekly Chronicle for detailed witness accounts
  • Wreck Survey: Consider side-scan sonar in the probable shallow grounding area to confirm debris field
  • Family Descendants: Explore genealogical lines from Captain Smith’s family for personal records or letters about the disaster

Conclusion

The L. J. Conway succumbed to a violent November 17, 1886 blizzard on Lake Michigan while carrying corn and oats, stranded near Flower Creek. Despite attempts to anchor, all five aboard perished. The wreck remains emblematic of the hazards of late-season Great Lakes shipping and the vulnerabilities of small sail-powered freighters. Would you like me to gather crew lists, retrieve full articles, or draft a site survey plan?

l-j-conway-us-15955 1886-11-17 14:43:00