130-Year-Old Wreck of a Historic Schooner Found in Lake Michigan

The wreck of Margaret A. Muir, a 130-foot-schooner which sank in a storm on September 30, 1893, while sailing across Lake Michigan has been found 130 years later on the lake’s bed.

Maritime historians and the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association discovered the wreck submerged under 50 feet of water, a few miles from the harbour of Algoma, Wisconsin.

They reached out to Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin’s state maritime archaeologist, who went to take pictures of the wreck after which they created its 3D model.

The ship was found in bad shape, with collapsed decks and its sides unattached, though its anchors, bow windlass and hand pumps were still somewhat intact.

They plan to nominate the wreck for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kevin Cullen, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum said that protecting shipwrecks is vital since the artefacts they contain are invaluable and reveal much about the region’s shipping history.

Margaret A. Muir was constructed in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1872 and had a 21-year-long career in which she carried varied cargo across all five Great Lakes.

The vessel was loaded with 4375 barrels of salt from Bay City, Michigan and was headed to South Chicago, Illinois. It crossed the Straits of Mackinac which connects Huron and Michigan Lakes, when it encountered a storm with winds blowing at 50 miles per hour.

Though the ship endured the weather at first, massive waves crashed over the deck and Captain David Clow decided to sail to the nearest port, when he found water in the ship’s hold.

The crew abandoned the ship hurriedly however soon the ship violently sank, taking the Captain’s beloved dog and its mascot to the depths.

The 7 crew members deployed the lifeboat which also started filling with water. They somehow reached a beach whose residents helped them.

Captain Clow was quite shaken by the incident and deeply saddened to have lost his faithful companion who was loved by the crew as well. Though the team searched for the dog’s remains, they could not find anything.

References: smithsonian magazine, NY Times