Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: William Treat
• Type: Wooden schooner-barge (originally built as a brig)
• Year Built: 1856
• Builder: William Treat, Euclid, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length: 146 ft (44.5 m); Beam: 35 ft (10.7 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 389 GT
• Location: Port Albert, Ontario (north of Goderich), Lake Huron
• Official Number: 26170
• Original Owners: Various interests during her career

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The William Treat was a wooden schooner-barge, originally built as a brig, designed for bulk freight transport.

Description

The William Treat was a large, wooden brig built in 1856 in Euclid, Ohio, by William Treat. Originally rigged as a brig, she was later converted into a schooner-barge for bulk freight transport. Part of the growing trend of barge consorts, she operated under tow by steam tugs rather than relying solely on wind power. Primarily carrying lumber, grain, and coal across Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Erie, schooner-barges like William Treat allowed steam tugs to haul multiple cargo-laden vessels efficiently, increasing profitability. Owned by various interests during her career, she was operated on major timber and industrial trade routes between Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario.

History

On October 3, 1883, the William Treat was bound from Bay City, Michigan, to Detroit, carrying a load of lumber. She was in tow behind the tug J.P. Clark, along with several other barges. During a storm, she became unmanageable, wallowing heavily in the waves. The barge ahead of her, Seminole, was forced to cut her loose in order to save the rest of the tow. She was abandoned near Sand Beach (now Harbor Beach, Michigan) on September 27 and drifted for nearly a week.

Significant Incidents

• October 3, 1883: The William Treat was abandoned during a storm after becoming unmanageable.
• Part of her crew paddled 20 miles to shore on a makeshift raft after she was abandoned.
• The remaining crew members and the wreck itself eventually came ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Huron on October 3.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss due to storm damage. No known salvage efforts. Remains likely scattered or buried in shallow waters near Port Albert, Ontario.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck site. Possible wreckage may exist near Port Albert, Ontario.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The William Treat was a former brig converted into a schooner-barge, part of a fleet of bulk cargo vessels operating under tow across the Great Lakes. Lost in a severe storm in 1883, she was abandoned after being cut loose from her tow. Though her crew survived, her wreck remains undiscovered near Port Albert, Ontario. Her loss is a reminder of the risks faced by lumber schooners and tow barges on the Great Lakes.