Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W. B. Phelps
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Glen Arbor, Michigan
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
Description
Description: The W. B. Phelps was a wooden schooner built in 1873. At the time of her loss, she was carrying a cargo of 17,000 bushels of wheat and 600 cases of beer.
History
History: The W. B. Phelps departed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bound for Oswego, New York. She encountered a violent November gale that ultimately led to her grounding near Glen Arbor, Michigan.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents:
- Departed Milwaukee laden with wheat and beer.
- Caught in a violent November gale, W. B. Phelps was driven onto a bar near Glen Arbor late on the 19th.
- The frigid conditions caused her sails and rigging to freeze, stranding the schooner on the shoal.
- Crew took refuge in the rigging as the hull began breaking apart in the icy waves.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition: The schooner broke up on the shoal; no record of vessel salvage exists. Remains were likely stripped by locals or wreckers before being completely destroyed by the elements.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility: The wreck of the W. B. Phelps is confirmed to have broken up and is considered abandoned. The exact condition of the wreck is unknown, but it is presumed to have been stripped and eroded over time.
Resources & Links
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Closing Summary: The W. B. Phelps serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailing vessels in the Great Lakes, particularly during late-season storms. Her loss highlights the significant threats posed by severe weather conditions in the 19th century.
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.
W. B. Phelps (Wooden Schooner – Built 1873, Lost November 19, 1879)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W. B. Phelps
- Built: 1873
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Cargo at Loss: 17,000 bushels of wheat and 600 cases of beer
- Date of Loss: November 19, 1879
- Route: Bound from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for Oswego, New York
- Location: Near Glen Arbor, Michigan, on the western shore of Lake Michigan
Circumstances of Loss
- Departed Milwaukee laden with wheat and beer.
- Caught in a violent November gale, W. B. Phelps was driven onto a bar near Glen Arbor late on the 19th.
- The frigid conditions caused her sails and rigging to freeze, stranding the schooner on the shoal.
- Crew took refuge in the rigging as the hull began breaking apart in the icy waves.
Casualties & Rescue
- The crew of seven were left exposed to the bitter cold while aloft.
- Details are unclear on rescue operations, but given the era and setting, survivors were presumably recovered by the next morning—though the ordeal likely induced severe freezing injuries or hypothermia.
Final Disposition
- The schooner broke up on the shoal; no record of vessel salvage exists.
- Remains were likely stripped by locals or wreckers before being completely destroyed by the elements.
Significance
- The W. B. Phelps exemplifies the vulnerability of heavily laden sailing freighters in late-season storms on Lake Michigan.
- The extreme cold and ice presented deadly hazards even without direct fatalities—highlighting weather as a secondary but significant threat to 19th-century Great Lakes shipping.
Sources & References
- Local reporting and maritime historian accounts noting her sinking on Nov 19, 1879, near Glen Arbor, MI, and detailing frozen rigging conditions.
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Recommended Research Steps
- Newspaper Coverage: Investigate November 1879 issues of Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, and Michigan-based papers for rescue reports and crew condition.
- Port Logs: Consult maritime records from Milwaukee and Oswego for logbooks noting her departure, cargo manifests, and any rescue dispatches.
- Maritime Diaries: Review personal journals of mariners or lifesaving station logs near Sleeping Bear Bay for mentions of the schooner and her frozen crew.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1873 |
| Tonnage | Not specified (standard 19th-century schooner) |
| Cargo | Wheat & beer |
| Lost | Nov 19, 1879 near Glen Arbor, MI |
| Cause | Grounding in gale + freezing conditions |
| Crew | 7 (presumed rescued; no fatalities) |
| Wreck Status | Broken up and abandoned |