Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Transfer
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: East side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Not conclusively documented
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Transfer was a wooden schooner-barge, a common design for the 1870s Great Lakes trades, typically towed by steamers such as the Alleghany to carry bulk goods including lumber, iron ore, and general merchandise.
Description
Built of oak framing and pine planking, the Transfer had a single deck, three masts for auxiliary sail power, and a capacious hold for bulk cargo. She was designed for stability under tow, with a reinforced hull to withstand heavy seas.
History
Launched in 1874, the Transfer served for more than two decades transporting bulk cargo across the lakes. On 29 October 1896, while under tow of the steamer Alleghany and bound from Chicago to Manistique, Michigan, the Transfer encountered a severe storm on Lake Michigan. Pushed off course, she grounded on the east side of Beaver Island.
Although no cargo was on board at the time, the pounding surf quickly damaged the vessel beyond practical salvage. The crew escaped safely, assisted by those aboard the Alleghany.
Significant Incidents
- No loss of life reported.
Final Disposition
Declared a total constructive loss after stranding and breaking up. No significant salvage recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no documented modern archaeological survey of the Transfer wreck site, though local divers report scattered timbers may remain off Beaver Island.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”transfer1874″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Transfer illustrates the hazards of late-season towing on Lake Michigan, where even unladen schooner-barges could become total wrecks if cast ashore by storms. Its history, and the dramatic final stranding at Beaver Island, mark it as a representative example of 19th-century schooner-barge operations.
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 Name: Transfer
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year built and launched: 1874
- Owner: Not conclusively documented
- Cargo: Light (none reported at time of loss)
- Date lost: 29 October 1896
- Location: East side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Crew: No loss of life reported
Vessel Type
The Transfer was a wooden schooner-barge, a common design for the 1870s Great Lakes trades, typically towed by steamers such as the Alleghany to carry bulk goods including lumber, iron ore, and general merchandise.
Description
Built of oak framing and pine planking, the Transfer had a single deck, three masts for auxiliary sail power, and a capacious hold for bulk cargo. She was designed for stability under tow, with a reinforced hull to withstand heavy seas.
History
Launched in 1874, the Transfer served for more than two decades transporting bulk cargo across the lakes. On 29 October 1896, while under tow of the steamer Alleghany and bound from Chicago to Manistique, Michigan, the Transfer encountered a severe storm on Lake Michigan. Pushed off course, she grounded on the east side of Beaver Island.
Although no cargo was on board at the time, the pounding surf quickly damaged the vessel beyond practical salvage. The crew escaped safely, assisted by those aboard the Alleghany.
Final Dispositions
Declared a total constructive loss after stranding and breaking up. No significant salvage recorded.
Located By & Date Found
There is no documented modern archaeological survey of the Transfer wreck site, though local divers report scattered timbers may remain off Beaver Island.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Index (BGSU)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The loss of the Transfer illustrates the hazards of late-season towing on Lake Michigan, where even unladen schooner-barges could become total wrecks if cast ashore by storms. Its history, and the dramatic final stranding at Beaver Island, mark it as a representative example of 19th-century schooner-barge operations.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Wooden schooner-barge
- Lake Michigan
- Beaver Island
- Tow loss
- 19th-century shipping
- Great Lakes shipwreck
- Storm loss
If you want, I can help locate contemporary newspaper articles describing the incident — just let me know!
transfer1874 1896-10-20 18:00:00