Identification & Ownership

Final Voyage & Sinking

  • Date & Time: Around 4 a.m., October 28, 1919
  • Conditions: Westerly gale driving waves over entrance to Muskegon Harbor
  • Incident: Loss of engine control led the Muskegon to ram the south pierhead, becoming ensnared by undertow. Massive waves shattered her wooden Hull (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association)
  • Sinking: Capsized and sank within minutes (4–10 minutes reported) in ~50 ft of water at channel entrance (Wikipedia)

Human Toll & Rescue Efforts

  • Fatalities: 29 passengers and crew lost (some reports vary: 12–30). Survivors included 37 passengers and 9 crew (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association)
  • Rescue: Coast Guard and lifeboat crews responded within minutes; Captain Edward (or Edwin) Miller stayed aboard attempting maneuver—some survivors guided by handheld flashlight (Wikipedia)

Sources & Archival Citations

Historical Significance

  • One of the most dramatic Great Lakes disasters post–1913 Storm, illustrating the volatility of early-autumn nor’easters on Lake Michigan
  • A pivotal case in maritime safety—wooden Hull proved vulnerable to massive wave action, even in harbor entry
  • Strong modern archaeological potential: wreck lies in ~50’ water at channel entrance and is a known dive site

Further Research Recommendations

  • Estimate wreck coordinates based on pierhead and depth records; commission side-scan sonar & magnetometer survey
  • Obtain survivor interviews from Muskegon newspaper archives (Oct–Nov 1919)
  • Secure Coast Guard incident logs and Captain Miller’s official record
  • Explore artifact preservation via Michigan Shipwreck Research Association