Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Miranda (1848)

Explore the wreck of the Miranda, a wooden schooner lost in a storm in 1871, with a rich history of lumber transport on the Great Lakes.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Miranda
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1848
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length ~90-140 ft (~27-43 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: ~200-300 tons
  • Location: Bound Bay, Michigan
  • Official Number: Not documented in sources
  • Original Owners: Captain J. R. Scott, Detroit
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Miranda was a two-masted wooden schooner designed primarily for the transport of lumber products. Its construction was typical of the era, utilizing wood as the primary material.

Description

Built in 1848, the Miranda was engaged in the lumber trade, transporting goods between ports in Michigan. The vessel was caught in a severe storm on September 17, 1871, which ultimately led to its loss.

History

At the time of its loss, the Miranda was owned by Captain J. R. Scott and was under the command of Captain McAdam. The schooner was actively involved in the transportation of lumber products, a common practice in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century.

Significant Incidents

  • Caught in a severe storm on September 17, 1871.
  • Driven ashore in 8 feet of water and subsequently wrecked by waves.
  • No known loss of life; all hands presumed to have survived.

Final Disposition

The Miranda was declared a total loss after being wrecked. The hull wreckage was broken apart by storm waves and tides, and the vessel was stripped of its equipment and cargo shortly after the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is likely buried or scattered due to the dismantling and natural erosion. A field survey near the original wreck site may uncover remnants of the vessel or its cargo.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”miranda-1848″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of the Miranda highlights the dangers faced by lumber schooners in the Great Lakes, particularly during the stormy autumn months. Further research and exploration could provide valuable insights into its history and the conditions of the time.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Miranda
  • Build Year: 1848
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Official Number: Not documented in sources

Vessel Type & Construction

  • Rigging: Two-masted wooden schooner designed for lumber transport
  • Dimensions & Tonnage: Specifics unrecorded in available sources, but typical for lumber schooners of this era: ~90–140 ft length, ~200–300 tons

Final Voyage & Wreck Details

  • Departure: Bound from Bay City, Michigan to Detroit, Michigan
  • Date & Loss Event: Caught in a severe storm on September 17, 1871, driven ashore in 8 ft of water; subsequently “pounded to pieces” by waves at Bound Bay and fully wrecked by 12 PM (noon) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Cargo: Approximately 85,000 board feet of lumber, plus cedar posts and shingles (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Crew & Casualties: No known record of loss of life; presumed all hands survived—no fatalities reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

History & Ownership

  • Owner at Loss: Captain J. R. Scott, Detroit; master aboard was Captain McAdam (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Operational Use: Engaged in transporting lumber products between Michigan ports
  • Aftermath: Wreck reported ashore and fully wrecked by the 4th (likely September 21); stripped of equipment and cargo; broken up by the 10th (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition & Salvage

  • Status: Declared a total loss; hull wreckage broken apart by storm waves and tides
  • Salvage: Vessel was stripped and dismantled on site; engines, rigging, and cargo recovered where possible (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Hull Specifications: Exact dimensions, photography, or builder’s plans remain unverified.
  • Crew Lists & Biographies: Detailed crew manifests listing deckhands, officers, or survivor accounts are not found.
  • Insurance & Legal Documentation: No surviving insurance records or loss claims traced.
  • Local Newspaper Accounts: Investigate Detroit and Bay City newspapers (e.g., Bay City Tribune) from late September 1871 for detailed reports.
  • Official Records: Seek entries in U.S. Customs enrollment, shipping logs, and possibly Marine Court inquiry records.

Wreck & Heritage Significance

  • Represents the perilous conditions faced by Great Lakes lumber schooners during the autumn storm season (“Witch of November”).
  • Early example of cargo schooner loss during peak logging-traffic era; dramatic wreck may have influenced regional salvage practices.
  • Potential for exploring small-scale remains or artifact dispersal field near the Bound Bay shoreline zone.

Proposed Next Steps for Research & Exploration

  • Archival Dive: Consult Bay City Tribune and Detroit Free Press archives for survivor testimonies, cargo valuations
  • Government Records: Review 1871 Marine Court files in Detroit or U.S. Customs Enrollment records
  • Local Historical Society Inquiry: Bay County Historical Society may possess unpublished letters or eyewitness accounts
  • Field Survey: While wreck was dismantled and likely buried, survey near original wreck site (‘Bound Bay’) may uncover timber remnants or cargo scatter

Conclusion

The schooner Miranda, built in 1848 and lost in a September 17, 1871 storm, exemplifies a lumber schooner crushed by a late-season gale—stripped, dismantled, and ultimately destroyed by wave action. No known lives were lost, but the damage to its cargo and hull was total. Archival confirmation of dimensions, crew, and official proceedings would provide a more complete historical record, and a field survey of the site may yield physical evidence of the wreck.

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