Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Wm. Stone
- Type: Wooden steam barge
- Year Built: 1896
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Cecil Bay, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Wm. Stone was a wooden steam barge primarily engaged in the lumber trade.
Description
The Wm. Stone was actively engaged in the lumber trade and moored at Cecil Bay when a fierce northwest gale struck on the night of 13 October 1901. The storm ripped the barge from its berth, driving her ashore where she broke apart. The vessel was declared a total loss the same day, and her enrollment was subsequently closed.
History
The Wm. Stone was involved in the lumber trade and was moored at Cecil Bay when a severe northwest gale struck. The storm caused the barge to break loose from its mooring, leading to its destruction on the shore. The vessel was recorded as a total loss shortly after the incident.
Significant Incidents
- Lost during a northwest gale on 13 October 1901.
- Declared a total loss the same day.
Final Disposition
The Wm. Stone was destroyed when blown ashore against the dock, with her hull fragmented in the surf. No remnants remain; the wreck was recorded as a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal wreck survey was conducted, and no physical remains have been documented in modern records.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”wm-stone-1896″ title=”References & Links”]
The Wm. Stone serves as a stark example of early 20th-century lumber barges vulnerable to sudden gales in the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her recent construction in 1896, she stood no chance against nature’s force. While lost to history, her demise highlights the risks faced by working vessels tied to vulnerable shorelines.
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
- Name: Wm. Stone
- Year built: 1896
- Type: Wooden steam barge
- Final location: Cecil Bay, Michigan (Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron)
- Loss date: 13 October 1901
- Cargo: Lumber
- Cause of loss: Broke loose from lumber dock during a northwest gale and wrecked ashore—suffered total destruction
- Casualties: None reported
History & Chronology
The Wm. Stone was actively engaged in the lumber trade and moored at Cecil Bay when a fierce northwest gale struck on the night of 13 October 1901. The storm ripped the barge from its berth, driving her ashore where she broke apart. The vessel was declared a total loss the same day, and her enrollment was subsequently closed (dcnrhs.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
She was destroyed when blown ashore against the dock, her hull fragmented in the surf. No remnants remain; the wreck was recorded as a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
No formal wreck survey was conducted, and no physical remains have been documented in modern records.
Notmars & Advisories
There were no navigational warnings or hazards recorded post-wreck; damage was isolated to the docking location.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files log entry: “She was lying at the Oscoda lumber dock when she was broken loose by a gale and went ashore. … 1901, annotated ‘total loss at Cecil Bay, Mich.’” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The Wm. Stone serves as a stark example of early 20th-century lumber barges vulnerable to sudden gales in the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her recent construction in 1896, she stood no chance against nature’s force. While lost to history, her demise highlights the risks faced by working vessels tied to vulnerable shorelines.
Keywords
- Wooden steam barge
- Straits of Mackinac wreck
- Lumber trade
- 1901 gale loss
- Cecil Bay incident