Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W.W. Arnold
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: H.J. Williams, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 426 gross tons (347 net tons)
- Location: Near Two-Hearted River mouth, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: 26166
- Original Owners: J. Kelderhouse, Harrison & McGibbons, J.D. Bothwell
- Number of Masts: string
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A robust mid-19th-century wooden schooner, the W.W. Arnold was built to carry bulk freight—most notably iron ore—and was a standard model of its era on the Upper Great Lakes.
Description
The W.W. Arnold was a wooden-hulled schooner designed for the transportation of bulk cargo, particularly iron ore, which was a significant trade in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century.
History
- Commissioned in 1863 and initially owned by J. Kelderhouse of Buffalo.
- Sold in 1866 to Harrison & McGibbons.
- By the final voyage in 1869 she was managed by J.D. Bothwell of Cleveland.
Significant Incidents
- Departed Marquette on November 4, 1869, amid the “Great November Gale,” facing severe winds and snow.
- Foundered near the Two-Hearted River, breaking apart on the shore amid 50-ft cliffs.
- All souls aboard perished, with bodies uncovered later in early December.
Final Disposition
The schooner was declared a total wreck. Her belongings—including anchors, chain, cabin fittings—were salvaged in July 1870. The remains were abandoned to insurance underwriters.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern navigational warnings are attached. However, the Two-Hearted River site became significant enough to prompt construction of a U.S. Life-Saving Station in 1876.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-w-arnold-us-26166″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The schooner W.W. Arnold, built for iron-ore hauling, met its doom during a ferocious fall storm, leaving no survivors and scattering wreckage along Lake Superior’s remote shore. Its loss precipitated safety interventions and remains a stark echo of maritime risk in the Great Lakes’ shipping heyday.
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.W. Arnold (Official No. 26166 – Built 1863, Lost November 4–15, 1869)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W.W. Arnold
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner
- Built: 1863 by H.J. Williams, Buffalo, New York
- Official Number: 26166
- Tonnage: 426 gross tons (347 net tons) (usdeadlyevents.com)
- Final Voyage: Launched from Marquette, Michigan on November 4, 1869, with iron ore destined for Cleveland
- Final Location: Driven ashore near Two‑Hearted River mouth, Lake Superior
- Date of Loss: Forced ashore November 4, 1869; wreck confirmed December 7–11, 1869 (usdeadlyevents.com)
- Casualties: Total loss of 10–11 souls aboard (crew and two passengers) (usdeadlyevents.com)
- Insurance & Loss: Vessel insured for around US $18,000 (valued ~$19,500–25,000); cargo insured for ~$25,000; losses exceeded $55,000
Vessel Type Description
A robust mid-19th-century wooden schooner, the W.W. Arnold was built to carry bulk freight—most notably iron ore—and was a standard model of its era on the Upper Great Lakes.
History
- Commissioned in 1863 and initially owned by J. Kelderhouse of Buffalo
- Sold in 1866 to Harrison & McGibbons
- By the final voyage in 1869 she was managed by J.D. Bothwell of Cleveland (usdeadlyevents.com, us-data.org)
Final Voyage & Loss
Departing Marquette on November 4, 1869, amid the infamous “Great November Gale,” the W.W. Arnold battled severe winds and snow. She foundered near the Two‑Hearted River, breaking apart on the shore amid 50‑ft cliffs (usdeadlyevents.com). All souls aboard perished, their bodies uncovered later in early December, alongside scattered wreckage over a three-mile stretch .
Final Disposition
The schooner was declared a total wreck. Her belongings—including anchors, chain, cabin fittings—were salvaged in July 1870. The remains were abandoned to insurance underwriters (miningjournal.net).
Located By & Date Found
Initial discovery occurred December 7, 1869 by a mail carrier; a volunteer search party reached the wreck December 11. Further salvage occurred into summer 1870 (miningjournal.net).
Notmars & Advisories
No modern navigational warnings are attached. However, the Two‑Hearted River site became significant enough to prompt construction of a U.S. Life‑Saving Station in 1876 (miningjournal.net).
Significance
The W.W. Arnold is emblematic of wooden bulk schooners that bracketed the technological shift toward steel. Its destruction illustrates the deadly power of November storms on Lake Superior, and its wreck spurred institutional maritime safety improvements on remote shorelines.
Resources & Links
- † USDeadlyEvents.com – summary entry on wreck and crew loss (usdeadlyevents.com)
- † NorthernMichiganHistory.com – report on sinking and aftermath (miningjournal.net)
- † USGenNet Great Lakes Shipwreck Repository – detailed incident vessel data (us-data.org)
Conclusion
The schooner W.W. Arnold, built for iron-ore hauling, met its doom during a ferocious fall storm, leaving no survivors and scattering wreckage along Lake Superior’s remote shore. Its loss precipitated safety interventions and remains a stark echo of maritime risk in the Great Lakes’ shipping heyday.
Keywords
W.W. Arnold; Two‑Hearted River; Great November Gale; iron ore schooner; Lake Superior wreck; 1869 maritime disaster; H.J. Williams Buffalo; maritime safety station.
w-w-arnold-us-26166 1869-11-04 07:53:00