Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Wm. Stone
• Type: Wooden steam barge
• Year Built: 1896
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• 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

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

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.