Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R.B. King
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: G. Hanson, St. Joseph, Michigan
- Dimensions: Approx. 84 ft (~25.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~83 gross tons / 79 net tons
- Location: Muskegon Harbor (Port Sherman), Lake Michigan, Michigan
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: 21286
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The R.B. King was a compact wooden schooner built in 1863 by G. Hanson in St. Joseph, Michigan. Equipped with three masts and modest tonnage (~83 gt / 79 nt), she was designed for nearshore and harbor navigation—often used for regional freight or ballast voyages.
Description
The R.B. King was a wooden three-masted schooner, primarily engaged in regional trade on Lake Michigan. Her construction and design were typical of the era, focusing on functionality for nearshore operations.
History
Launched during the Civil War era, the R.B. King plied the local trade routes of Lake Michigan for more than two decades. By late 1885, her condition had deteriorated significantly—her timbers weakened to the point that her insurance had been canceled shortly before her final departure, indicating structural decline at the time of loss.
Significant Incidents
- On 8 November 1885, en route under ballast to Muskegon, the schooner attempted to enter Muskegon harbor amid a gale. She struck the north pier, capsized, and sank.
- Two crew members drowned, while the Life-Saving Service rescued the remaining two.
- The following day, surf action fragmented the wreck.
Final Disposition
There was no formal discovery mission—news of the sinking and wreckage appeared immediately after the incident. The wreck was noted publicly shortly after the event, but no documented archaeological recovery or survey was later conducted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No dive site exists. Given the destruction and dispersal of wreckage in shallow harbor surf, no remains remain for modern exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”r-b-king-us-21286″ title=”References & Links”]
Two crew members—Fringle Frinsleson and Andrew Olsen—perished in the sinking; two others survived. The Life-Saving Service conducted the rescue. No known memorials or burial records have been identified; further archival research in Muskegon or regional newspaper obituaries may illuminate their identities.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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