Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type & Specifications

Incident Overview

On 2 May 1905, while transporting coal on Lake Huron, the W.H. Rounds was caught in a violent spring storm. The Schooner was driven onto a reef—likely Black River Reef—some 2 miles offshore. The Hull was breached and the vessel quickly took water, with no possibility of salvage. Fortunately, the crew escaped and reached shore safely. Word of the loss took nearly a week to reach shipping authorities (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Sources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“R” listing) – details loss due to storm, grounding on reef, Total Loss, no lives lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary historical note – mentions W.H. Rounds among schooners lost to storms on northern Lake Huron reefs (NOAA Sanctuaries)
  • Midwest Marine Historical Archives – includes registry and sinking date (Tonawanda-built, 1875)

Historical Significance & Context

  • The W.H. Rounds operated during the tail end of the century-long peak for wooden sail-powered bulk freighters on the Great Lakes.
  • Her loss underscores the ongoing threat reefs posed to bulk cargo vessels in stormy seasons.
  • The fact that the crew survived reflects the common presence of nearby coastal stations and relatively short rowing distance to land.

Wreck Site & Dive Potential

  • Location: Approx. 2 miles off Harrisville, Michigan on a reef (~15–20 ft deep) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Accessibility: Possibly accessible to snorkelers or shallow-water divers; wreckage likely broken but still near the surface.
  • Hazard Status: Not currently charted on Notices to Mariners; no modern dive or sonar surveys have confirmed vessel location.

Conclusion

The W.H. Rounds serves as a poignant example of late-era wooden bulk schooners and their vulnerability to spring storms and reef collisions in Lake Huron. Her sinking—so near land and without loss of life—offers both a historical narrative and a potential shallow-water dive site, pending verification.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Huron, off Harrisville, MI
  • Vessel Type: Wooden coal Schooner
  • Cause of Loss: Storm, grounding
  • Cargo: Coal
  • Casualties: None
  • Dive Status: Potential snorkel-level wreck (~15–20 ft)
  • Year of Loss: 1905