Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Trial
- Type: Wooden schooner (originally built as a sloop)
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Rand, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 36 GT
- Location: Just southwest of the harbour entrance at Muskegon, Michigan
- Official Number: 24233
- Original Owners: Samuel Hanson of Milwaukee
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Trial was a small, wooden sailing vessel, originally built as a sloop but later converted into a schooner.
Description
The Trial was constructed in 1857 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, though some sources suggest she was built in Cleveland in 1853. One of the few clinker-built vessels on the Great Lakes, her hull was constructed with overlapping planks, a method more commonly used in smaller boats and European-style vessels. Owned by Samuel Hanson of Milwaukee, the Trial was used for cargo transport between Milwaukee, Manistee, and other Lake Michigan ports. Her master at the time of loss was Captain Peter Hanson. The vessel sustained heavy damage in 1869 and underwent major repairs in 1878, suggesting she had already suffered from multiple mishaps before her final wrecking.
History
On November 15, 1883, the Trial was approaching the Muskegon harbour when she was caught in a violent storm. She attempted to reach safety but was stranded just southwest of the harbour entrance. The storm pounded the vessel, quickly breaking her apart. The U.S. Lifesaving Service responded heroically, forcing their surfboat through a mass of heaving logs and debris to rescue the crew of two. The vessel broke up in place, becoming a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Heavy damage sustained in 1869.
- Major repairs undertaken in 1878.
- Wrecked in a storm on November 15, 1883, near Muskegon, Michigan.
Final Disposition
The Trial was declared a total loss after breaking up in the storm. No known salvage efforts were made, and the wreck remains likely deteriorated near Muskegon harbor.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck site. Potential remains may exist near Muskegon, Michigan, but are likely scattered.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”trail-us-24233″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Trial was a small but resilient schooner, operating on Lake Michigan for over 25 years before being wrecked in a storm near Muskegon in 1883. Thanks to the bravery of the U.S. Lifesaving Service, her crew survived, but the vessel was completely destroyed. While her remains have not been located, she stands as a testament to the challenges faced by early Great Lakes sailors.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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