Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Trader
- Type: Propeller, wood
- Year Built: 1865
- Builder: Philip Rice, Marine City, MI
- Dimensions: 115 x 23 x 10 ft (35 x 7 x 3 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 169 gross tons (enlarged from 150 tons in 1874)
- Location: Near Grand Haven, MI
- Official Number: 21458
- Original Owners: S.A. Brown, Marine City
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The TRADER was a wooden propeller ship designed for bulk cargo transport.
Description
The TRADER was a wooden propeller ship built in 1865 by Philip Rice in Marine City, Michigan. She was 115 feet (35 meters) long, with a beam of 23 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 10 feet (3 meters), and originally had a gross tonnage of 150 tons before being rebuilt and enlarged to 169 tons in 1874. TRADER was reported to be the first purpose-built steambarge on the Great Lakes, which was specifically designed to carry bulk cargoes like lumber.
History
On October 12, 1880, the TRADER was caught in a violent storm about 20 miles (32 km) offshore near Grand Haven, Michigan. The storm battered the ship, and she began to sink, with her decks awash in high seas. The crew managed to abandon ship and were rescued by the schooner GUIDE, in what was described as a daring rescue.
Significant Incidents
- In May 1866, the TRADER went ashore on Kelley’s Island, and it was feared she would not survive.
- In November of the same year, she was involved in a tragic incident when her boiler exploded on Lake Huron, killing three members of her crew.
Final Disposition
The TRADER was later towed in, her decks still awash, and was beached just outside the harbor by the steam barge S.C. HALL. The wreckage of the ship washed ashore a few days later in the aftermath of the “ALPENA Storm” of 1880. It was reported that the TRADER had been lost with all hands, though in reality, the crew had survived.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the TRADER remains a significant site for divers interested in Great Lakes maritime history.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”trader-us-21458″ title=”References & Links”]
The TRADER is an example of a purpose-built steambarge that had a significant role in Great Lakes transportation during the 19th century. Despite surviving a fierce storm in 1880, her eventual fate was marked by tragedy when her wreckage washed ashore, and the ship was misreported as a victim of the “ALPENA Storm.” The TRADER’s legacy, though, survives in the records of Great Lakes maritime history.
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.
TRADER
Identification & Site Information
- Other Names: None
- Official No.: 21458
- Type at Loss: Propeller, wood
- Build Info: 1865, Philip Rice, Marine City, MI
- Specs: 115x23x10 ft, 169 gross tons (enlarged from 150 tons in 1874)
- Date of Loss: 1880, October 12
- Place of Loss: Near Grand Haven, MI
- Lake: Michigan
- Type of Loss: Storm
- Loss of Life: None
- Carrying: Lumber
History and Description
The TRADER was a wooden propeller ship built in 1865 by Philip Rice in Marine City, Michigan. She was 115 feet (35 meters) long, with a beam of 23 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 10 feet (3 meters), and originally had a gross tonnage of 150 tons before being rebuilt and enlarged to 169 tons in 1874. TRADER was reported to be the first purpose-built steambarge on the Great Lakes, which was specifically designed to carry bulk cargoes like lumber.
Final Disposition
On October 12, 1880, the TRADER was caught in a violent storm about 20 miles (32 km) offshore near Grand Haven, Michigan. The storm battered the ship, and she began to sink, with her decks awash in high seas. The crew managed to abandon ship and were rescued by the schooner GUIDE, in what was described as a daring rescue.
The TRADER was later towed in, her decks still awash, and was beached just outside the harbor by the steam barge S.C. HALL. The wreckage of the ship washed ashore a few days later in the aftermath of the “ALPENA Storm” of 1880. It was reported that the TRADER had been lost with all hands, though in reality, the crew had survived.
Later Incidents
In May 1866, the TRADER went ashore on Kelley’s Island, and it was feared she would not survive. Later that year, in November, she was involved in a tragic incident when her boiler exploded on Lake Huron, killing three members of her crew.
Ownership & Master
- • Owner: S.A. Brown, Marine City
- • Master: Capt. Frank Brown
Resources & Links
For further information on TRADER and similar wrecks, explore the following references:
- Bowling Green State University
- Great Lakes Historical Society: A comprehensive resource for shipwrecks across the Great Lakes.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Focuses on detailed histories of ships like TRADER, and their role in Great Lakes commerce.
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Contains a collection of artifacts and information about shipwrecks, including those in Lake Michigan.
Conclusion
The TRADER is an example of a purpose-built steambarge that had a significant role in Great Lakes transportation during the 19th century. Despite surviving a fierce storm in 1880, her eventual fate was marked by tragedy when her wreckage washed ashore, and the ship was misreported as a victim of the “ALPENA Storm.” The TRADER’s legacy, though, survives in the records of Great Lakes maritime history.
trader-us-21458 1880-10-12 07:55:00