Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Louis Meeker
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Hanson & Scove
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 311 tons
- Location: South of Pentwater, near Big Sable Point
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: 15873
- Original Owners: Registered under Chicago ownership
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A substantial wooden schooner, newly built in 1872, designed for bulk grain transport across Lake Michigan. At 311 tons, she was notably large for her time and type.
Description
Completed in 1872 at Manitowoc and registered under Chicago ownership, the Louis Meeker loaded a substantial wheat cargo for eastern Lake Michigan delivery. On the stormy night of 28 August 1872, south of Pentwater (or near Big Sable Point), she capsized in heavy seas and sank rapidly. Of her nine crew, Captain West and four other sailors drowned.
History
The schooner foundered and sank in deep water, taking much of her cargo and five sailors to the lake bottom. The wreck was not salvaged, and no evidence suggests recovery efforts succeeded.
Significant Incidents
- On 28 August 1872, the Louis Meeker capsized and sank during a storm, resulting in the loss of five crew members, including Captain West.
Final Disposition
The schooner remains a lost wreck with an undocumented resting place, presumed to be off Pentwater / Big Sable Point.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern surveys, GPS records, or dive investigations have identified the wreck site. The sinking location remains unnamed but is presumed off Pentwater / Big Sable Point.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”louis-meeker-us-15873″ title=”References & Links”]
The Louis Meeker—a 311-ton schooner launched in 1872—met a tragic end just weeks after her arrival in service. On 28 August 1872, she capsized with a massive wheat payload offshore Lake Michigan, south of Pentwater. The disaster took the lives of five out of her nine crew, including Captain West. The vessel remains a lost wreck with an undocumented resting place.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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