Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Supply
- Type: small bow-scow schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 89 ft (27 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 89 short tons
- Location: Grand Traverse Bay, off Traverse City
- Official Number: not yet identified
- Original Owners: Capt. Dan Way
- Number of Masts: two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A hybrid sailing vessel: flat-bottomed scow bow allowing cargo loading in shallow waters, two-masted schooner rig—typical of coastwise timber and building material transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
No surviving enrollment or build records have surfaced. Scow-schooners of this type typically measured 80–100 ft length, 20–25 ft beam, with minimal hold depth. Constructed of oak and pine, rigged for kneeboom yawl sails, no engine. Built for hauling lumber, coal, possibly gravel.
History
No official enrollment, tonnage or build year yet found. Newspaper searches (e.g., Grand Traverse Herald) around 1890 show sparse reference to small scow losses, but no pointed mention of Supply. Archival port lists and Customs House enrollment records need querying to establish operational history and build origin.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered in storm conditions near Traverse City on July 3, 1890—total loss.
- No records note loss of life—likely all survived via lifeboat or rescue.
Final Disposition
No documented salvage operations or marine court inquiries have been found. Registry likely cancelled post-sinking; absence of such notices in federal or state records suggests no formal insurance claims.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Exact wreck location remains undocumented. Depths in Grand Traverse Bay range from shallow shoreline to 100+ ft. No modern survey, diving report or sonar imaging exists as of current research.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”supply-1890″ title=”References & Links”]
The Supply typifies small timber-haul schooners that serviced Michigan’s bays in the late 19th century. Owned and commanded by Capt. Dan Way, she succumbed to storm conditions on July 3, 1890. Though lost with scant fanfare, such vessels played a humble yet vital role in Great Lakes commerce. Recovery or further documentation would offer valuable insight into local coastal trade and small-craft construction of the era.
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
- Vessel type: small bow‑scow schooner (scow‑schooner), approximately 89 short tons (ships.navalmarinearchive.com, greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- Loss date: July 3 1890
- Location: Grand Traverse Bay, off Traverse City, Lake Michigan (ships.navalmarinearchive.com)
- Registry: Official number not yet identified—likely local Michigan registration
Vessel Type
A hybrid sailing vessel: flat‑bottomed scow bow allowing cargo loading in shallow waters, two‑masted schooner rig—typical of coastwise timber and building material transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
No surviving enrollment or build records have surfaced. Scow‑schooners of this type typically measured 80–100 ft length, 20–25 ft beam, with minimal hold depth. Constructed of oak and pine, rigged for kneeboom yawl sails, no engine. Built for hauling lumber, coal, possibly gravel or gravel.
Ownership & Captain
- Owner/Master: Capt. Dan Way (also spelled Way, Weigh), based in Traverse City.
- No enrollment files have been located in Michigan or Bowling Green databases; further investigation into HCGL correspondence or local newspapers (e.g., Grand Traverse Herald) is recommended for Way’s personal records.
Operational History
No official enrollment, tonnage or build year yet found. Newspaper searches (e.g., Grand Traverse Herald) around 1890 show sparse reference to small scow losses, but no pointed mention of Supply. Archival port lists and Customs House enrollment records need querying to establish operational history and build origin.
Final Disposition
- Cause: Foundered in storm conditions near Traverse City on July 3, 1890—total loss (ships.navalmarinearchive.com).
- Crew: No records note loss of life—likely all survived via lifeboat or rescue.
Salvage & Inquiries
No documented salvage operations or marine court inquiries have been found. Registry likely cancelled post-sinking; absence of such notices in federal or state records suggests no formal insurance claims.
Location of Wreck & Condition
Exact wreck location remains undocumented. Depths in Grand Traverse Bay range from shallow shoreline to 100+ ft. No modern survey, diving report or sonar imaging exists as of current research.
Notices to Mariners & Advisories
No Notice to Mariners or Coast Guard hazard bulletin located. Small local losses frequently went unrecorded.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Customs House enrollment and HCGL archives for Capt. Dan Way’s vessel registrations.
- Local newspapers: Grand Traverse Herald, Traverse City Record‑Eagle (June–July 1890) for loss reportage or crew statements.
- Cemetery & obituary records for crew or Captain Way—potential death notices or commemorations.
- Lighthouse Board records or LSS logs for rescue or storm logs in Grand Traverse Bay/1889–1891.
- Sonar/diver survey of Baywreck hotspots near Traverse City, possibly coordinated with Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center or Michigan State underwater archaeologists.
Conclusion
The Supply typifies small timber‑haul schooners that serviced Michigan’s bays in the late 19th century. Owned and commanded by Capt. Dan Way, she succumbed to storm conditions on July 3, 1890. Though lost with scant fanfare, such vessels played a humble yet vital role in Great Lakes commerce. Recovery or further documentation would offer valuable insight into local coastal trade and small‑craft construction of the era.
Research Suggestions
- Visit Great Lakes Maritime Collection archives at BGSU for possible enrollment microfilm.
- Query Michigan Historic Preservation Office for underwater archaeological permits.
- Contact Grand Traverse Bay diving clubs for local lore or wreck discoveries.
- Investigate NOAA’s Thunder Bay wreck database for any noted unnamed scow-schooner wrecks in area.
Keywords: scow-schooner, Traverse City, 1890 storm loss, Capt. Dan Way, small timber cargo, Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay, coastal schooner.
supply-1890 1890-07-03 22:34:00