Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

W.S. Lyons

Explore the wreck of the W.S. Lyons, a 136-foot schooner that sank in 1871 during a storm, now identified with intact features and high archaeological potential.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: W.S. Lyons
  • Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Builder: William S. Lyons
  • Dimensions: Approximately 136 ft; 258.44 gross tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 258.44 gross tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 15.24 m / 50 ft
  • Location: White Shoals, near Waugoshance Point, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 26236
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

W.S. Lyons is classified as a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.

Description

The W.S. Lyons was built in 1866 in Lorain, Ohio, and measured approximately 136 feet in length. It was primarily used for transporting cargo, including iron ore, and had a registered tonnage of 258.44 gross tons.

History

The operational history of the W.S. Lyons includes its launch and enrollment in Cleveland in 1866, initial ownership from Black River, Ohio, and significant incidents such as sinking in the Detroit River in 1869 while carrying coal, and its eventual loss in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1871.

Significant Incidents

  • 1866: Launched and enrolled in Cleveland; initially owned and operated from Black River, Ohio.
  • 1869 (April): Sank at Bar Point, Detroit River, while carrying a load of coal; later recovered and repaired.
  • 1871 (11 October): Caught in a severe Lake Michigan storm; stranded on White Shoals near Waugoshance Point while laden with iron ore; deemed a total loss.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 11 October 1871
  • Location: White Shoals, near Waugoshance Point, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Foundered in storm, stranded and wrecked on shoals
  • Casualties: None documented
  • Salvage: Tug Magnet arrived after refloat delays; stripped the vessel of masts, rigging, anchors, and chains, leaving the hull to sink; outfitting brought to Cleveland.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Discovery: Sonar imaging in May 2018 identified suspected wreckage in ~50 ft of water less than one mile from White Shoal Light; distinct features include hull side, centerboard trunk, and ore-laden debris field.
  • Accessibility: The site lies within recreational diving depth; however, remote location near shoals and potential sediment coverage demand cautious approach and precise coordinates.
  • Archaeological Potential: High—intact features such as centerboard, keel, and cargo offer valuable study opportunities.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-s-lyons” title=”References & Links”]

The W.S. Lyons, a 136-foot schooner built in 1866, foundered in severe weather on White Shoals near Waugoshance on 11 October 1871. Stranded under heavy ore cargo, the vessel was later stripped and abandoned. The wreck site was identified in May 2018 at ~50 feet depth, with intact structural features and ore debris still present. The site holds exceptional research potential. For further exploration, acquiring exact coordinates, historical tug logs, and contemporary news dispatches will be critical. Please let me know if you’d like assistance accessing archival records or planning a survey expedition to the wreck.

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.S. LYONS

Year Built: 1866, Lorain (Black River), Ohio
Official Number: 26236
Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
Builder: William S. Lyons
Dimensions: Approximately 136 ft; 258.44 gross tons
Cargo at Loss: Iron ore

Chronology & Operational History

  • 1866: Launched and enrolled in Cleveland; initially owned and operated from Black River, Ohio
  • 1869 (April): Sank at Bar Point, Detroit River, while carrying a load of coal; later recovered and repaired
  • 1871 (11 October): Caught in a severe Lake Michigan storm; stranded on White Shoals near Waugoshance Point while laden with iron ore; deemed a total loss

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 11 October 1871
  • Location: White Shoals, near Waugoshance Point, Lake Michigan
  • Cause: Foundered in storm, stranded and wrecked on shoals
  • Casualties: None documented
  • Salvage: Tug Magnet arrived after refloat delays; stripped the vessel of masts, rigging, anchors, and chains, leaving the hull to sink; outfitting brought to Cleveland

Wreck & Dive Notes

  • Discovery: Sonar imaging in May 2018 identified suspected wreckage in ~50 ft of water less than one mile from White Shoal Light; distinct features include hull side, centerboard trunk, and ore-laden debris field
  • Accessibility: The site lies within recreational diving depth; however, remote location near shoals and potential sediment coverage demand cautious approach and precise coordinates
  • Archaeological Potential: High—intact features such as centerboard, keel, and cargo offer valuable study opportunities

Research & Survey Recommendations

  1. Coordinate Verification: Currently available sonar positions require confirmation via side-scan or ROV; Michigan shipwreck archives may release precise coordinates soon
  2. Contemporary Newspaper Coverage: Storm alerts and shipping loss notices likely in Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, or Mackinac Island News (Oct 1871)
  3. Wreck Logs & Salvage Records: Tug Magnet voyage logs and outfitting receipts in Great Lakes underwriter archives may include details of stripping operation
  4. Site Management & Preservation: Engage with Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime program for possible Wisconsin waters designation and protective measures

Sources

  • Michigan Mysteries article: confirmation of build date, wreck circumstances, stripped by tug Magnet, and sonar images of wreck site
  • NOAA Wisconsin shipwreck field survey program: references active documentation of wrecks near White Shoal
  • Wikipedia / NPS information on Waugoshance Light: confirms hazard and shoal context for grounding

Summary

The W.S. Lyons, a 136-foot schooner built in 1866, foundered in severe weather on White Shoals near Waugoshance on 11 October 1871. Stranded under heavy ore cargo, the vessel was later stripped and abandoned. The wreck site was identified in May 2018 at ~50 feet depth, with intact structural features and ore debris still present. The site holds exceptional research potential. For further exploration, acquiring exact coordinates, historical tug logs, and contemporary news dispatches will be critical. Please let me know if you’d like assistance accessing archival records or planning a survey expedition to the wreck.

w-s-lyons 1871-10-11 19:56:00