Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Wing & Wing
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1845
• Builder: Sanford & Moses, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: 106 ft (32.3 m) length x 24 ft (7.3 m) beam x 9 ft (2.7 m) depth
• Registered Tonnage: 217 tons
• Location: Michigan City, Indiana
• Official Number: None
• Original Owners: Richmond & Co., Detroit, Michigan
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Wing & Wing was a two-masted wooden schooner, a type of vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century for transporting a variety of bulk cargoes such as lumber, grain, and coal.

Description

Launched in 1845, the Wing & Wing was a modestly sized schooner built for versatility and durability. With a length of 106 feet and a tonnage of 217, she was capable of handling significant cargo loads while navigating the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes. Her design reflected the typical schooner construction of the period, optimized for both cargo transport and maneuverability in coastal and inland waters.

History

Owned by Richmond & Co. of Detroit, Michigan, the Wing & Wing was part of the bustling maritime commerce that characterized the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. Schooners like the Wing & Wing were integral to the transportation network, carrying essential goods between growing industrial cities and smaller ports throughout the region.

On December 4, 1854, the Wing & Wing encountered a severe blizzard while navigating near Michigan City, Indiana, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The violent storm drove the schooner ashore, where she ultimately became a total loss. Specific details regarding the cargo she was carrying at the time of her loss are not documented, and it remains unclear whether there were any fatalities resulting from the incident.

The loss of the Wing & Wing highlights the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes during the winter months. Sudden storms, such as the blizzard that claimed the vessel, were a constant threat, often striking with little warning and leaving ships vulnerable to grounding or capsizing.

Significant Incidents

• December 4, 1854: The Wing & Wing was driven ashore and wrecked at Michigan City, Indiana, during a severe blizzard.

Final Disposition

The Wing & Wing was driven ashore and wrecked at Michigan City, Indiana, in December 1854. The schooner was declared a total loss, and no significant salvage efforts are recorded.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Wing & Wing serves as an example of the risks inherent to schooner navigation on the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. Her loss during a blizzard near Michigan City underscores the unpredictable and often dangerous nature of Great Lakes weather, particularly in the late shipping season. While details about her cargo and crew remain sparse, the schooner’s story is a part of the broader narrative of maritime commerce and peril on Lake Michigan.