Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William Finch
- Type: Scow schooner
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Perry or D. Smith
- Dimensions: Length 68 ft (20.73 m); Beam 17.3 ft; Depth of hold 5.2 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 49 gross tons / 47 net tons
- Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 80696
- Original Owners: D. Smith, E. H. Graham
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: William Finch
- Official Number: 80696
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Perry or D. Smith
- Build Location: South Haven, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
Description
Dimensions
- Length: 68 ft
- Beam: 17.3 ft
- Depth: 5.2 ft
- Tonnage: 49 gross tons / 47 net tons
History
Ownership & Service History
- 1878–1879: Owned by D. Smith, South Haven, MI
- 1883: Owned by E. H. Graham, South Haven, MI
- 1885: Registered in Milwaukee
Significant Incidents
Incident Chronology
- 1898, Aug 29: Struck by unknown steamer on Lake Michigan; lifesaving crew from Point Betsy Station rescued crew
- 1900, Nov 9: Wrecked near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan) during a storm while salvaging gear from the schooner Norma
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- Cause: Wrecked in a storm during salvage operations
- Location: Near Egg Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
- Casualties: None reported
- Condition: Total loss; presumed unrecovered
Current Condition & Accessibility
Historical Significance
The William Finch served the Lake Michigan region for over two decades, typical of small scow schooners involved in cargo and salvage work. The wreck occurred during a storm while aiding recovery from another wreck, underscoring the perils faced even by support vessels. Her service life included a notable 1898 collision with an unknown steamer, followed by a dramatic crew rescue.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-finch-us-80696″ title=”References & Links”]
Sources & Archival References
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- R. L. Polk Co. Marine Directory, Detroit
- Newspaper clippings (local Wisconsin and Michigan papers, 1900)
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Notes from Peter J. VanderLinden
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