Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Twilight
- Type: Wooden, three-masted schooner (originally built as a steambarge)
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Unknown, built in Algonac, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 96 ft (29.3 m); Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m); Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 105 GT (originally 185 GT before rebuild)
- Location: Rock Falls, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 24508
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Twilight was a wooden, three-masted schooner, originally constructed as a steambarge in 1864. She was converted to a sailing vessel in 1868 to adapt to the changing demands of Great Lakes shipping.
Description
The Twilight was built in 1864 at Algonac, Michigan, initially as a steambarge. In 1868, she was converted into a three-masted schooner, likely to extend her operational life and adapt to the evolving Great Lakes shipping economy.
Operating out of Bay City, Michigan, the Twilight transported ore and bulk goods between Goderich, Ontario, and Port Huron, Michigan, a common route for vessels involved in the Great Lakes mining and industrial trade.
History
On November 15, 1871, the Twilight was sailing from Goderich, Ontario, to Port Huron, Michigan, carrying a load of ore when she was caught in a powerful storm. The vessel struck a reef near Rock Falls, Michigan, causing a hull breach and rudder damage, rendering her uncontrollable and leading to her sinking. The crew attempted to abandon ship in the yawl, but the lifeboat capsized in the rough waters, resulting in the drowning of six of the eight crew members. Only two sailors survived, likely by clinging to wreckage or reaching shore. The vessel was abandoned as a total loss, and her registry was surrendered at Port Huron on January 14, 1879, with a notation confirming her wrecking in November 1871.
Significant Incidents
- November 15, 1871: Caught in a storm, the Twilight struck a reef, leading to a hull breach and subsequent sinking.
- Six of the eight crew members drowned when their lifeboat capsized.
Final Disposition
The Twilight was declared a total loss after the wreck, with no record of salvage efforts or confirmed modern discovery of the wreck site. The remains are likely scattered or buried under sediment near Rock Falls, Michigan, on Lake Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known wreck site has been identified for the Twilight. The area near Rock Falls is known for its history of shipwrecks due to reefs and sudden storms.
Resources & Links
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The Twilight serves as a somber reminder of the many lives lost to the unpredictable waters of Lake Huron. Her tragic end highlights the dangers faced by wooden sailing vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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