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.

Wooden Two‑Masted Schooner, Stranded and Broke Apart in a Storm — Lake Michigan

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Wreck Name: Lark
• Official Number: Not recorded
• Type at Loss: Wooden schooner, 2‑mast, bulk freight
• Build Info: Built in 1855 by Lafrinier & Stevenson of Cleveland, OH
• Dimensions (at time of loss): ~138 ft length × ~26 ft beam × ~11 ft depth, 388 gross tons (The Guardian, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Date of Loss: November 10, 1872
• Location: Near mouth of Carp River, near Leland, Michigan, Lake Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Cause of Loss: Caught in severe storm, became stranded and broke up
• Cargo: Bulk freight (specific cargo not indicated)
• Loss of Life: Not recorded — presumed none lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type Description

The Lark was a mid-19th century wooden schooner, rigged with two masts and likely used for bulk freight transport on Lake Michigan routes. With a substantial tonnage of nearly 400 tons, she would have carried general cargo or bulk goods between ports. Built in Cleveland by Lafrinier & Stevenson in 1855, she was large for schooner design and tailored to inland sea transport where sail power still dominated (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

History & Chronology

• 1855: Launched in Cleveland; served regional trade across Michigan and adjoining waterways.
• 1872 (Nov 10): Encountered a major storm near Carp River while navigating Lake Michigan. The vessel was driven ashore near Leland and rapidly disintegrated under wave action. The forecasted storm overwhelmed her, leading to total loss. The wreck reportedly remained visible from shore for some time afterward (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Final Disposition

After becoming stranded on the shoals outside Carp River, Lark was battered by surf and quickly broke apart. She was declared a total loss. While the crew fate is not documented, no fatalities were mentioned in period records or aggregated wreck lists, making it likely that all aboard survived.

Site Condition & Accessibility

• Current Status: No known dive efforts or archaeological survey have documented the site.
• Remnants: The wreck likely disintegrated completely, with any remains buried by lakebed sediment or scavenged over time. Given shallow, nearshore location, some structural remnants may persist beneath sand or rubble.

Resources & References

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files listing for Lark — includes vessel specifications, loss date, location, nature of loss, and post‑storm visibility observations (The Guardian, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Great Lakes Maritime Historical Records — corroborative listing in Minnesota and Michigan storm‑loss subsections for November 1872
• Carp River Historic Accounts and Leland Historical Society Archives (suggested next steps to explore newspaper or municipal records for eyewitness accounts or legal documentation)

Summary Table

Attribute	Detail
Built	1855, Cleveland, OH
Type	Wooden schooner (2-mast) (~388 gt)
Date of Loss	November 10, 1872
Location	Carp River mouth, Leland, MI
Cause	Storm → stranded → hull breakup
Cargo	Bulk freight (unspecified)
Crew	Not recorded—likely survived
Modern survey	None recorded

Conclusion

Vessel Lark exemplifies the risk faced by large wooden schooners on Lake Michigan in late-autumn gales. At nearly 400 gross tons, she was among the larger schooners of her era yet succumbed quickly to storm-driven shorewreck. While her exact final resting site remains unlocated by modern underwater archaeologists, historical records offer enough data to identify her and her circumstances.

lark-1855 1872-11-10 10:06:00