Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Napoleon
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: Barber’s yard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Approximately 88 ft × 22 ft × 8 ft; ~108 register tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~108 register tons
- Location: Near Pierport, 15 miles south of Frankfort, Michigan
- Official Number: 18174
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Napoleon was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1854, the Napoleon measured approximately 88 feet in length and was primarily used for transporting lumber and other commodities. The vessel was laden with lumber slabs at the time of her loss.
History
The Napoleon had a career span of over three decades, having been launched in 1854 and rebuilt in 1869. Throughout her service, she typically operated between mid-Lake Michigan ports.
Significant Incidents
- On October 30, 1887, the Napoleon was caught in a severe northeast gale while laden with lumber slabs.
- She dragged anchor and was driven onto Pierport beach, sustaining heavy structural damage from the surf and rocks.
- The crew survived the incident, with no casualties reported.
Final Disposition
The hull of the Napoleon was rendered a total loss due to the damage sustained during the storm. The crew managed to reach shore safely.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The probable wreck site is located in the beach vicinity at Pierport, where sections of the hull or iron fittings may be buried in cobble and sand. Scattered timbers, metal fastenings, and cargo remnants may be found in nearshore sediments.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”napoleon-us-18174″ title=”References & Links”]
The Napoleon serves as a significant historical artifact, illustrating the challenges faced by 19th-century vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during the hazardous late-season storms.
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: Napoleon
- Official No.: 18174
- Built: 1854, by Barber’s yard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Dimensions & Tonnage: Approximately 88 ft × 22 ft × 8 ft; ~108 register tons
- Final Event: Caught in a storm and sailed onto Pierport beach on October 30, 1887, during a NE gale on Lake Michigan
- Location: Near Pierport, 15 miles south of Frankfort, Michigan
- Cargo: Lumber slabs
- Casualties: None reported—crew survived (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident & Final Disposition
- While laden with lumber slabs, Napoleon was overwhelmed by a strong autumn storm. She dragged anchor and was driven onto the beach at Pierport.
- The hull sustained heavy structural damage from pounding surf and rocks, rendering her a total loss. The crew managed to reach shore safely (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Historical & Operational Context
- Career Span: Launched in 1854, rebuilt in 1869, Napoleon had over three decades of service before her demise (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Typical Use: Transporting lumber and other commodities between mid-Lake Michigan ports.
Archival & Research Gaps
- Crew & Captain: No names or roles have been identified—enrollment logs or customs records may contain this info.
- Cargo Documentation: Specific load details and intended destination—merchant manifests or freight logs may provide insights.
- Detailed Weather Data: Access to fall storm conditions (wind speeds, wave heights) would contextualize the conditions leading to wrecking.
- Press Coverage: Local newspapers (e.g., Frankfort Mountaineer, Manistee News) from November 1887 likely carry salvage reports or crew interviews.
- Salvage Records: Harbor or commercial logs may reflect dismantling efforts or ownership claims post-wreck.
Wreck & Survey Potential
- Probable Wreck Site: Beach vicinity at Pierport—likely hull sections or iron fittings buried in cobble and sand.
- Remains: Expect scattered timbers, metal fastenings, and cargo remnants in nearshore sediments.
- Survey Opportunities:
- Side-scan sonar and aerial magnetometer surveys focused around the 1887 shoreline
- Low-tide shore walks and shallow dives, especially post-storm periods for debris exposure
- Historical chart overlays to pinpoint shoreline configurations at time of loss
Historical Significance
- The Napoleon illustrates a long-lived schooner (over 33 years) that succumbed to the persistent hazards of late-season Great Lakes travel.
- The wreck provides a tangible link to 19th-century timber transport along Lake Michigan’s coast.
- Its survival until the late 1880s makes it a valuable artifact of maritime history and vessel construction of its era.
Recommended Next Steps
- Archival Requests
- Enrollments and crew manifests from National Archives (Detroit District) for 1887
- Newspaper Searches
- November 1887 editions of Frankfort Mountaineer and Manistee News for wreck and salvage stories
- Field Reconnaissance Plan
- Survey Pierport shoreline and nearshore zone using magnetometer and side-scan techniques
- Conduct beach combing dives or visual shoreline inspections