W. W. Brigham (1848)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: W. W. Brigham
• Type: Wooden Great Lakes cargo vessel
• Year Built: c. 1848
• Builder: likely Midwestern Great Lakes yard
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Likely off Muskegon/Manitowoc; precise coordinates unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The W. W. Brigham was a wooden cargo vessel designed for service on the Great Lakes, primarily used for transporting lumber.

Description

The W. W. Brigham was built around 1848 and was engaged in the lumber trade. On her final voyage, she was transporting lumber from Muskegon (or Manitowoc) to Chicago when she encountered a sudden squall.

History

Throughout her service, the W. W. Brigham was part of the bustling Great Lakes shipping industry, which was vital for transporting goods across the region. The vessel’s construction and ownership details remain sparse, but she was likely built in a Midwestern Great Lakes yard.

Significant Incidents

• Date of capsizing: August 28, 1884
• Incident summary: The vessel capsized in a sudden squall on Lake Michigan, rolling and sinking overnight.
• Crew survival: The crew managed to make a raft from lumber and drifted for approximately four days before being rescued.
• Rescue: The crew was saved near Muskegon by the schooner Walter Smith.

Final Disposition

The W. W. Brigham sank after capsizing, and her remains are likely undisturbed in the deeper waters of Lake Michigan. The wreck site remains undocumented, and precise coordinates are unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is located in deep water and is not considered a navigational hazard. Potential remains may include wooden debris shoals, but the site is uncharted.

Resources & Links

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Efforts to locate and document the W. W. Brigham could benefit from archival research and remote sensing surveys to identify the wreck site and assess its condition.