Vessel Details (partially undocumented)
- Build Info: Not identified—no known record of builder, year, dimensions, or official number
- Type: Likely a wooden sailing vessel (Schooner or scow), typical of late-19th century Great Lakes freight craft
- Cargo at Loss: Reported to be carrying 350 barrels of whiskey, possibly alongside mixed merchandise and cash—suggesting use in high-value, possibly bootleg or specialty transport
Incident & Final Loss
- Date of Loss: 1893 (mid-late); likely during the fall shipping season
- Location: North side of South Manitou Island (near Morazan Point), Lake Michigan
- Cause: Foundered during a storm; driven ashore or capsized in high seas—wreck pronounced a Total Loss (“templeton… storm… 350 bbl whiskey… no detail”)
- Casualties: Not recorded
Primary Source
- Catalogued in Great Lakes Shipwreck Files with notation: “TEMPLETON… 1893… North side of S Manitou Isl. near MORAZAN… storm… carrying 350 bbl whiskey*… No detail… *also had mixed merchandise and (supposedly) lots of cash.” (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Area | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Construction & Registry | Search archived 1890s ship registration logs for “Templeton” to recover vessel specs and ownership |
| Cargo Verification | Examine shipping manifests or merchant ledgers—especially for liquor shipments, perhaps connected to Prohibition-era trade patterns |
| Loss Documentation | Investigate 1893 meteorological data and newspaper accounts (Chicago Tribune, Traverse City Record-Eagle) for grounding or ship loss near South Manitou |
| Salvage or Dive Survey | Employ side-scan sonar or a shore-based dive near Morazan Point—the relatively shallow north side may yield visible wreck remnants |
| Legal or Insurance Records | Liberty Mutual or other insurers might hold claims tied to high-value cargo losses |
Summary
Templeton was a small Great Lakes freight vessel lost off South Manitou Island in 1893 after being caught in a storm. Laden reportedly with 350 barrels of whiskey and other valuables, she was wrecked with all cargo lost. Vessel-specific data (build, dimensions, crew) remain undocumented. The whiskey cargo hints at an intriguing economic backstory—be it legitimate trade or covert transportation.