W.W. Arnold (Official No. 26166 – Built 1863, Lost November 4–15, 1869)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: W.W. Arnold
  • Type: Wooden-hulled Schooner
  • Built: 1863 by H.J. Williams, Buffalo, New York
  • Official Number: 26166
  • Tonnage: 426 gross tons (347 net tons) (usdeadlyevents.com)
  • Final Voyage: Launched from Marquette, Michigan on November 4, 1869, with iron ore destined for Cleveland
  • Final Location: Driven ashore near Two‑Hearted River mouth, Lake Superior
  • Date of Loss: Forced ashore November 4, 1869; wreck confirmed December 7–11, 1869 (usdeadlyevents.com)
  • Casualties: Total Loss of 10–11 souls aboard (crew and two passengers) (usdeadlyevents.com)
  • Insurance & Loss: Vessel insured for around US $18,000 (valued ~$19,500–25,000); cargo insured for ~$25,000; losses exceeded $55,000

Vessel Type Description

A robust mid-19th-century wooden Schooner, the W.W. Arnold was built to carry bulk freight—most notably iron ore—and was a standard model of its era on the Upper Great Lakes.

History

  • Commissioned in 1863 and initially owned by J. Kelderhouse of Buffalo
  • Sold in 1866 to Harrison & McGibbons
  • By the final voyage in 1869 she was managed by J.D. Bothwell of Cleveland (usdeadlyevents.com, us-data.org)

Final Voyage & Loss

Departing Marquette on November 4, 1869, amid the infamous “Great November Gale,” the W.W. Arnold battled severe winds and snow. She Foundered near the Two‑Hearted River, breaking apart on the shore amid 50‑ft cliffs (usdeadlyevents.com). All souls aboard perished, their bodies uncovered later in early December, alongside scattered wreckage over a three-mile stretch .

Final Disposition

The Schooner was declared a total wreck. Her belongings—including anchors, chain, cabin fittings—were salvaged in July 1870. The remains were Abandoned to insurance underwriters (miningjournal.net).

Located By & Date Found

Initial discovery occurred December 7, 1869 by a mail carrier; a volunteer search party reached the wreck December 11. Further salvage occurred into summer 1870 (miningjournal.net).

NOTMARs & Advisories

No modern navigational warnings are attached. However, the Two‑Hearted River site became significant enough to prompt construction of a U.S. Life‑Saving Station in 1876 (miningjournal.net).

Significance

The W.W. Arnold is emblematic of wooden bulk schooners that bracketed the technological shift toward steel. Its destruction illustrates the deadly power of November storms on Lake Superior, and its wreck spurred institutional maritime safety improvements on remote shorelines.

Resources & Links

  • † USDeadlyEvents.com – summary entry on wreck and crew loss (usdeadlyevents.com)
  • † NorthernMichiganHistory.com – report on sinking and aftermath (miningjournal.net)
  • † USGenNet Great Lakes Shipwreck Repository – detailed incident vessel data (us-data.org)

Conclusion

The Schooner W.W. Arnold, built for iron-ore hauling, met its doom during a ferocious fall storm, leaving no survivors and scattering wreckage along Lake Superior’s remote shore. Its loss precipitated safety interventions and remains a stark echo of maritime risk in the Great Lakes’ shipping heyday.

Keywords

W.W. Arnold; Two‑Hearted River; Great November Gale; iron ore Schooner; Lake Superior wreck; 1869 maritime disaster; H.J. Williams Buffalo; maritime safety station.