Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Orphan Boy
- Type: Wooden-hulled barkentine
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: William Jones
- Dimensions: 144 ft × 30.2 ft × 11.7 ft (43.9 × 9.2 × 3.6 m); approx. 482 old-style tons; 365 GRT / 347 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 365 GRT / 347 NRT
- Location: Grounded on or near Big Sable Point, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 18919
- Original Owners: D. P. Foster of Cleveland
- Number of Masts: Three masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A sizeable three-masted cargo vessel used in lumber transport. The barkentine rig (square sails on foremast, fore-and-aft on main and mizzen) allowed for a mix of performance and handling. She featured a roomy hold ideal for bulk lumber—a trade she was doing at her loss.
Description
The Orphan Boy was a wooden-hulled barkentine, characterized by her three masts and a single deck. She was primarily engaged in the transportation of lumber, which was a significant trade during her operational years.
History
1866–1879: Ownership passed through Cleveland-based interests, with multiple major deck repairs in 1870 and 1876.
1885: Owned by D. P. Foster of Cleveland; engaged in late-season lumber runs across Lake Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: 5 December 1885
- Location: Grounded on or near Big Sable Point, Lake Michigan
- Cause of wreck: Caught in a fierce gale late in the season; sprung ashore and broke apart in surf while laden with green lumber
- Casualties: Reports vary—8 to 12 persons lost (crew and possibly passengers); catastrophic loss of life during the wreck.
- No survivors were documented in primary sources—likely perished in the violent surf conditions.
Final Disposition
The Orphan Boy was lost during a severe storm on December 5, 1885, while carrying green lumber. The vessel grounded on Big Sable Point and broke apart in the surf, leading to a tragic loss of life.
Current Condition & Accessibility
In April 2020, timber fragments and a large wooden windlass washed ashore near Ludington, thought possibly linked to the Orphan Boy’s remains. The wreck zone off Big Sable Point is well known for exposing century-old ship remnants. No formal wreck identification or archaeological survey has confirmed her wreck, but emerging debris may indicate parts of her structure are surfacing.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”orphan-boy-us-18919″ title=”References & Links”]
The Orphan Boy’s sudden destruction in a December gale of 1885 underscored the danger of late-season lumber voyages on Lake Michigan. The significant loss of life—possibly up to a dozen souls—makes this one of the more tragic yet lesser-known wrecks of the era. Although no intact wreck has been formally located, scattered timbers and wreckage continue to wash up near Ludington, hinting at her presence offshore and offering tantalizing clues to her final resting place.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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