W.L. Brown (1872)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: W.L. Brown
• Type: Wooden steam barge
• Year Built: 1872
• Builder:
• Dimensions: 180 ft (55 m); 30 ft (9 m); Depth unknown
• Registered Tonnage: 550 tons (499 metric tonnes)
• Location: Near Green Island, off Peshtigo, Wisconsin
• Official Number: none recorded

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden steam barge, constructed for bulk transport of iron ore and similar cargos.

Description

The W.L. Brown was a wooden-hulled, single-screw steam barge with a midship-mounted engine, typical of Great Lakes ore carriers of the 1870s. She featured a forward pilothouse, deckhouse cabins amidships, and large open holds for ore loading, reinforced for the dense cargo. Boilers and engine were located aft of the cargo hold, separated by watertight bulkheads, a fairly advanced safety feature for her day.

History

Built in 1872, the W.L. Brown was one of a series of steam barges servicing the burgeoning iron ore trade from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to manufacturing hubs in Wisconsin and Illinois. She ran a regular route carrying ore from Escanaba to De Pere, Wisconsin, and other Green Bay ports. Vessels like the Brown played a vital role feeding ironworks and foundries across the Midwest.

On October 21, 1886, the W.L. Brown departed Escanaba loaded with pig iron, bound for De Pere. As she steamed across Green Bay, a severe gale developed, typical of Great Lakes autumn storms. The vessel began taking on water — probably through opened seams strained by the heavy cargo. Reports suggest water reached the boiler room, leading to a catastrophic boiler explosion. The blast destroyed part of the hull, causing the ship to founder rapidly near Green Island, off the present-day community of Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

Crew accounts indicate they managed to escape in a lifeboat and were rescued. No fatalities were reported, though period records are incomplete.

Significant Incidents

• October 21, 1886: The W.L. Brown suffered a boiler explosion during a gale, leading to her sinking.

Final Disposition

The W.L. Brown was declared a total loss. No formal salvage operations occurred, and no insurance recovery of cargo is recorded. The vessel’s location was not precisely charted at the time and remains officially unlocated today.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the W.L. Brown has not been located. Archival and survey records, including the Wisconsin Historical Society and NOAA databases, confirm no discovery of its wreck site to date.

Resources & Links

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The W.L. Brown illustrates the hazards of the Great Lakes iron ore trade during the late 19th century, when wooden steam barges faced overwhelming forces from autumn storms. Its probable loss near Green Island remains unconfirmed, leaving an intriguing target for future surveys using side-scan sonar and ROVs. As an unlocated ore carrier of her era, she is historically significant for maritime archaeology and industrial heritage.