(Wooden Schooner‑Barque, built 1868; lost November 2, 1889)
Vessel Identity & Specifications
- Built: 1868 at Marine City, Michigan by Thomas Arnold as a Bark; converted to Schooner rig later
- Official Number: 9749
- Type & Size: Wooden Schooner‑Barque; 173 ft × 33 ft × 15 ft, approx. 560 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Ownership: Byron Whitaker & Son, Detroit; Master was Capt. Wilson (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Wreck (November 2, 1889)
- Route: Departed Escanaba, Michigan, bound for Detroit
- Cargo: Iron ore (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Loss Conditions: Caught in a westerly gale on Lake Michigan
- Incident: Driven ashore approximately 3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, near Beaver Island
- Outcome: Vessel pounded to pieces; crew was rescued by Tug Gladiator (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: None—crew was safely evacuated (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Loss Date | November 2, 1889 |
| Location | ~3 mi NW of Gray’s Reef, Beaver Island, Lake Michigan |
| Cargo | Iron ore |
| Cause of Wreck | Grounded and broken up in gale |
| Crew Casualties | None |
| Rescue Vessel | Tug Gladiator |
Context & Significance
- The Francis Palms was a robust 560-ton freighter carrying heavy iron ore—difficult to handle in storms.
- Gray’s Reef, near Beaver Island, was a known shoal hazard—often poorly charted in the late 19th century.
- The rescue by Gladiator highlights well-coordinated maritime response in that era.
Further Research & Next Steps
- Weather & Gale Verification
- Access NOAA historical data for early November 1889 to confirm gale intensity.
- Newspaper Archival Search
- Hydrographic Chart Investigation
- Examine period charts to precisely locate Gray’s Reef and model wreck site using NOAA archives.
- Maritime Archaeology Records
- Check NOAA or Michigan maritime databases for sonar or dive survey data near Beaver Island that could document this wreck.
- Retrieving historic weather records for early-November 1889 storms?
- Searching newspaper archives for coverage of the wreck and rescue?
- Studying chart records and reef mapping to locate the wreck site?
- Exploring archaeological and wreck survey resources around Beaver Island?