Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Tribune (1847)

Explore the tragic story of the Tribune, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on Lake Michigan, with a crew of ten perishing and the wreck remaining undiscovered.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Tribune
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1847
  • Builder: Unknown shipyard, Chicago, Illinois
  • Dimensions: Length: 104 ft (31.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 276 GT
  • Location: Off Cathead Point, Michigan, Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Michigan
  • Coordinates: Not available
  • Official Number: None (Pre-1869 U.S. vessel documentation era)
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Tribune was a large, early Great Lakes schooner, designed for cargo transport, particularly for hauling grain, lumber, and general freight across Lake Michigan and beyond.

Description

Built in Chicago in 1847, the Tribune was valued at $17,000 at the time of her disappearance, a significant investment for the era. She likely operated between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Michigan ports.

History

On April 18, 1848, the Tribune was sailing in lower Lake Michigan when she encountered a powerful storm. She completely disappeared, and her fate was unknown for over a year. All 10 crew members were lost, making it a tragic total loss. Reports suggest she may have been carrying wheat, though some sources claim she was empty at the time.

Her loss was a mystery until November 1849, when Native American fishermen discovered her masts sticking upright out of the water off Cathead Point, Michigan. This discovery suggests she sank in relatively shallow waters and may have gone down quickly without breaking apart, possibly due to capsizing rather than structural failure.

Significant Incidents

  • April 18, 1848: The Tribune disappears during a storm, resulting in the loss of all 10 crew members.
  • November 1849: Native American fishermen discover her masts upright in the water, indicating her location.

Final Disposition

No known salvage efforts have been made, and the wreck likely remains at the bottom near Cathead Point, Michigan. There has been no confirmed wreck discovery in modern times, although it was initially found in 1849 by Native fishermen.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Cathead Point is known for sudden storms and shipwrecks, particularly in the early years of Great Lakes commerce. The Tribune‘s mysterious disappearance and later discovery echo similar wrecks in Great Lakes history, where vessels sank intact in deep water before being found years later.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”tribune-1847″ title=”References & Links”]

The Tribune was one of the earliest lost schooners on Lake Michigan, vanishing in April 1848 before being found over a year later with its masts still upright. The loss of 10 crew members was one of the deadliest early shipwrecks on the lake, and her wreck remains undiscovered today. If located, she would be one of the best-preserved examples of an early Great Lakes cargo schooner.

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.

Schooner Tribune (1847–1848)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Tribune
  • Other Names: None
  • Official Number: None (Pre-1869 U.S. vessel documentation era)
  • Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden schooner
  • Builder: Unknown shipyard, Chicago, Illinois
  • Year Built & Launched: 1847
  • Specifications: Length: 104 ft (31.7 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 276 GT
  • Date Lost: April 18, 1848
  • Location of Loss: Off Cathead Point, Michigan, Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Michigan
  • Cause of Loss: Storm (foundered and disappeared)
  • Loss of Life: 10 (entire crew perished)
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Possibly carrying wheat or none (sources conflict)

Vessel Description & Service History

The Tribune was a large, early Great Lakes schooner, built in Chicago in 1847. She was designed for cargo transport, particularly for hauling grain, lumber, and general freight across Lake Michigan and beyond. By 1848, she was only one year old, making her loss one of the earliest major shipwrecks on Lake Michigan. She was valued at $17,000 at the time of her disappearance, a significant investment for the era. She likely operated between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Michigan ports.

Final Voyage & Loss (April 18, 1848)

On April 18, 1848, the Tribune was sailing in lower Lake Michigan when she encountered a powerful storm. She completely disappeared, and her fate was unknown for over a year. All 10 crew members were lost, making it a tragic total loss. Reports suggest she may have been carrying wheat, though some sources claim she was empty at the time.

Her loss was a mystery until November 1849, when Native American fishermen discovered her masts sticking upright out of the water off Cathead Point, Michigan. This discovery suggests she sank in relatively shallow waters. It also implies she may have gone down quickly without breaking apart, possibly due to capsizing rather than structural failure.

Final Disposition & Salvage

  • No known salvage efforts.
  • Likely remains at the bottom near Cathead Point, Michigan.
  • No confirmed wreck discovery in modern times.
  • Initially found in 1849 by Native fishermen (masts standing upright).
  • No modern wreck site confirmed.

Notmars & Advisories

Cathead Point is known for sudden storms and shipwrecks, particularly in the early years of Great Lakes commerce. Many early schooners were lost due to unpredictable weather, limited navigation technology, and poor hull strength for large waves. The Tribune‘s mysterious disappearance and later discovery echo similar wrecks in Great Lakes history, where vessels sank intact in deep water before being found years later.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Tribune was one of the earliest lost schooners on Lake Michigan, vanishing in April 1848 before being found over a year later with its masts still upright. The loss of 10 crew members was one of the deadliest early shipwrecks on the lake, and her wreck remains undiscovered today. If located, she would be one of the best-preserved examples of an early Great Lakes cargo schooner.

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