Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Peshtigo
  • Official Number: 19663
  • Year Built: 1863
  • Builder: Thomas Spears, Peshtigo, Wisconsin
  • Vessel Type: Three‑masted Barkentine
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: 1
  • Original Owner: Th. Beebe Company, Chicago, IL
  • Final Location: Collision site between Beaver Island and North Fox Island, Lake Michigan
  • Date Lost: 26 June 1878
  • Final Cargo: Coal
  • Loss Method: Collision with Schooner St. Andrews in fog and smoke

Vessel Type

The Peshtigo was a wooden Barkentine—Schooner-rigged fore-and-aft on main and mizzen, with square sails on foremast—designed for extensive Great Lakes freight service. At 161 ft (49 m), 602 old tons, she was among the larger sailing vessels built in Peshtigo.

Dimensions

  • Length: 161 ft (49 m)
  • Tonnage: 602 tons (old style)

History & Final Voyage

Constructed in 1863, the Peshtigo served various Great Lakes ports, carrying coal and other goods. Ownership remained with Chicago-based Th. Beebe Co. until her loss.

On 26 June 1878, while navigating Lake Michigan in dense fog and drifting smoke from regional fires, she collided with the three-masted Schooner St. Andrews. The impact caused the Peshtigo to sink within minutes; two crew members died. Survivors—rescued by the Schooner S.V.R. Watson—reported the collision occurred between Beaver Island and North Fox Island (Shipwreck World).

Final Disposition

The Peshtigo sank rapidly after collision, coming to rest bow-to-bow with the St. Andrews. Both vessels are now preserved on the lake bottom in ~60 m (200 ft) of water, separated by approximately 10 ft .

Located By & Date Found

Discovered in 2010 by diver Bernie Hellstrom near Beaver Island. Technical dives in 2019 by John Janzen and John Scoles, with historian Brendon Baillod, confirmed the site’s identity (Shipwreck World).

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners. The deep-water site is significantly below recreational diving limits (≈200 ft).

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies in excellent preservation: both hulls are intact, with masts downed and cargo (coal) scattered across the bottom (Shipwreck World). Accessibility is limited to technical deep-water divers under Michigan’s wreck protections.

Significance

This dual wreck site fills a historical gap—correcting previous misplacement of the Peshtigo in Lake Huron—and provides a rare, close-proximity pairing of vessels from a single collision (Shipwreck World). The site is archaeologically valuable for understanding late 19th-century Great Lakes sailing freight.

Resources & Links

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Tags: Peshtigo, Barkentine, collision wreck, Beaver Island, coal cargo, deep dive, Great Lakes archaeology
  • Categories: 19th‑Century Sailing Vessels, Dual-Wreck Sites, Technical Diving Wrecks, Great Lakes Disasters
  • Glossary: Barkentine, Bow‑to‑bow sinking, Technical dive depth, Fog navigation, Signal torches, Coal cargo preservation