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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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