Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William Shupe
- Type: Wooden schooner (lumber carrier)
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 90-140 ft (27-43 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 200-300 tons
- Location: Lake Huron, off Port Huron, Michigan
- Official Number: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden schooner designed for hauling bulk lumber—well-suited to Great Lakes trade routes, particularly during spring demand season. Her rigging and hull allowed substantial cargo loads and navigability in coastal and port environments.
Description
Built in the early 1860s, William Shupe was typical of period lumber schooners: sturdy, shallow-draft, and sail-powered. She carried large timber loads, frequenting Huron ports like Port Huron and Tonawanda during spring shipments.
History
In spring 1894, the schooner departed Port Huron laden with timber, bound for Tonawanda, Ontario. It encountered a powerful gale on 19 May, typical of seasonal storms on Lake Huron. The forceful winds and waves drove her onto the shoreline, pounding her hull until she broke apart.
Significant Incidents
- The storm forced her ashore and she disintegrated—battered to pieces in surf. Fortunately, all four crew members survived; they were rescued by locals and the lifesaving crews stationed near Port Huron.
Final Disposition
No wreck location has been documented. Remnants likely washed ashore or sunk nearby. No diving or archaeological survey has been conducted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No official Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR) was issued. However, this incident highlights the hazard of storm-driven debris near Port Huron’s shore in late-spring conditions—especially for small cargo vessels.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-shupe-1862″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
William Shupe exemplifies the fate of many mid-19th-century lumber schooners: built for heavy spring trade, only to succumb to violent seasonal storms. She was driven ashore and shattered during a spring 1894 gale off Port Huron, Michigan. Thanks to quick-thinking local rescuers, all four crewmen survived. Her remains remain undocumented—a testament to the many nearshore wrecks lost to history.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: William Shupe
- Other Names: None recorded
- Official Number: Not specified
- Type: Wooden schooner (lumber carrier)
- Build Year: 1862 (approximate based on registry patterns)
- Dimensions: According to similar schooners, likely ~90–140 ft in length with tonnage around 200–300 tons (nebnewspapers.unl.edu, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo at Loss: Lumber
- Date Lost: 19 May 1894, during a spring gale
- Location of Loss: Lake Huron, off Port Huron, Michigan (often reported in regional storm logs) (sites.rootsweb.com, newspapers.library.in.gov, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Crew: 4 aboard; all survived (sites.rootsweb.com)
VESSEL TYPE
A wooden schooner designed for hauling bulk lumber—well-suited to Great Lakes trade routes, particularly during spring demand season. Her rigging and hull allowed substantial cargo loads and navigability in coastal and port environments.
DESCRIPTION
Built in the early 1860s, William Shupe was typical of period lumber schooners: sturdy, shallow-draft, and sail-powered. She carried large timber loads, frequenting Huron ports like Port Huron and Tonawanda during spring shipments.
HISTORY
In spring 1894, the schooner departed Port Huron laden with timber, bound for Tonawanda, Ontario. It encountered a powerful gale on 19 May, typical of seasonal storms on Lake Huron. The forceful winds and waves drove her onto the shoreline, pounding her hull until she broke apart (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, sites.rootsweb.com).
INCIDENT & FINAL DISPOSITION
The storm forced her ashore and she disintegrated—battered to pieces in surf. Fortunately, all four crew members survived; they were rescued by locals and the lifesaving crews stationed near Port Huron (sites.rootsweb.com).
LOCATED BY & DATE FOUND
No wreck location has been documented. Remnants likely washed ashore or sunk nearby. No diving or archaeological survey has been conducted.
NOTICES TO MARINERS & ADVISORIES
No official Notice to Mariners (NOTMAR) was issued. However, this incident highlights the hazard of storm-driven debris near Port Huron’s shore in late-spring conditions—especially for small cargo vessels.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- RootsWeb note & eyewitness details: account of the schooner’s loss and survivor rescue off Port Huron (sites.rootsweb.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (WordPress): confirms loss date, location, vessel type, cargo, and survival outcome (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- NOAA bibliography (1894 rescue documentation): outlines crew rescue and storm context (repository.library.noaa.gov)
Conclusion
William Shupe exemplifies the fate of many mid‑19th-century lumber schooners: built for heavy spring trade, only to succumb to violent seasonal storms. She was driven ashore and shattered during a spring 1894 gale off Port Huron, Michigan. Thanks to quick-thinking local rescuers, all four crewmen survived. Her remains remain undocumented—a testament to the many nearshore wrecks lost to history.
Keywords & Glossary:
William Shupe; Port Huron storm wreck; lumber schooner; spring gale; 1894 Great Lakes wreck; crew rescue.