Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): Cyclone
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: Likely Cleveland, Ohio (common port for Schooner construction in this period; exact yard unconfirmed)
  • Registration Number: Not conclusively documented
  • Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden Schooner
  • Dimensions: Estimated length 30–35 m (98–115 feet); beam approx. 7 m (23 feet); tonnage 220–250 tons
  • Final Resting Place: Near Michigan shoreline, Lake Huron (exact charted coordinates unknown)
  • Date Lost: 7 September 1885
  • Depth: Likely shallow/beached (wreck largely destroyed)

Vessel Type

A classic wooden Great Lakes Schooner, built to transport heavy cargoes such as iron ore, coal, and lumber. These vessels formed the backbone of the 19th-century commercial trade fleet, with durable hulls and rigging optimized for Great Lakes weather.

Description

The Cyclone was a robust, iron-fastened, white-oak Schooner of typical mid-19th century construction. She was designed for the ore and coal trades and featured a large hold with reinforced Deck beams to handle dense, heavy bulk cargo.

History

On 7 September 1885, while carrying a cargo of iron ore on Lake Huron, the Cyclone encountered a severe storm. She began leaking heavily under the stress of pounding seas, overwhelming her pumps. The captain made the decision to beach the Schooner near the Michigan coast to save the crew.

Once aground, large breakers swept entirely over the ship, battering her Hull for several days. She was ultimately pounded to pieces by surf conditions, reducing her to a total wreck.

No fatalities were reported, with the crew escaping to shore.

Final Dispositions

The Cyclone was declared a total constructive loss. The vessel was destroyed in the surf over several days, and no salvage was recorded beyond scattered iron ore cargo.

Located By & Date Found

There is no modern survey confirming a coherent wreck site, as she was smashed apart on a beach, then likely scattered or buried by shifting sand and wave action.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No active navigational hazard exists today related to this wreck. No current Notmar is noted on charts.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Cyclone is a representative example of the vulnerability of wooden ore schooners on Lake Huron during severe fall storms. Her beaching and subsequent destruction in 1885 is a stark reminder of the hazards faced by 19th-century shipping, particularly with heavy cargo and limited pumping capacity.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: Cyclone, iron ore Schooner, 1885 wreck, Lake Huron, beaching
  • Categories: Great Lakes schooners, wooden ore carriers, storm losses, Michigan shipwrecks
  • Glossary Terms: constructive Total Loss, pounding surf, iron ore cargo, beaching