©1999-2009,
David D. Swayze,
Great
beginning with the letter
W
————————————————————————
————————————————————————±
Other names :
none
Official no. :
26252
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1863, Quayle & Martin, Cleveland
Specs :
933g 721n
Date of loss :
1870, Jun 5
Place of loss : NE
of Port Huron
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
1
Carrying :
railroad iron, glassware, etc.
Detail : She collided in dark and fog
with the steamer EMPIRE STATE and sank, a total loss, in about 9 minutes. Much
of her gear and some cargo was taken off her in 1871, and her engine and more gear were salvaged in 1889, but hull was
badly broken up by then. Owned by the Union Steamboat Co. Master: Capt. Pope.
Sources :
mv,slh,lhl,nsp,hgl,mpl,eas
————————————————————————±
WABASH
Other names :
none
Official no. :
80402
Type at loss :
schooner-barge , wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1873, Bailey Bros., Toledo as a schooner
Specs :
140x26x12, 315g 299n
Date of loss :
1883, Nov 16
Place of loss :
below Pictured Rocks, near Munising, MI
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
coal
Detail : Upbound in tow of tug SAMSON
with schrs C.G. KING and C.H. JOHNSON, she broke her towline and was forced
into the shallows near Grand Portal Point by a blizzard-gale. She broke into 3
pieces and later pounded to matchwood. The crew made it to shore on a makeshift
raft.Out of Cleveland. Master: Capt. Henderson.
She was built in
only 3 months.
Sources :
mv,polk,hgl,nsp,gwgl,ms,lss,net,mpl,es
————————————————————————±
WABASH VALLEY
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1856, Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo
Specs :
166x32x11, 592 t.
Date of loss :
1860, Nov 22
Place of loss :
near Muskegon, MI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
gen frt, flour
Detail : She was caught from behind by a
gale and driven on a reef while trying to make Grand Haven, then pounded to
pieces. Passengers and were crew all rescued. In the summer of the same year
she had gone ashore on Thunder Bay Isl., Lake Huron, and she was just back in
service after being heavily damaged in a collision in September. Her boiler and
furniture was later salvaged for use in the steamer SUNBEAM (qv).
Owned by the
Goodrich Line of Chicago.
Sources :
lhl,is,hgl,rsh,wl,eas,rnc
————————————————————————±
JAMES WADE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
75522
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info :
1873, Reed, Henderson, NY as a
two-mast schooner, mizzen added later
Specs :
273 g 212n
Date of loss :
1883, Nov 15
Place of loss : off
Rondeau Point
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
7
Carrying :
19,000 bu wheat
Detail :
Bound Detroit for Buffalo, she apparently foundered in a storm with just
the tips of her masts visible. For several days it was not known what vessel it
was, until someone recognized the masts of the missing WADE. She had started
for Buffalo two weeks before, but had suffered a collision on L. Erie and had
returned to Detroit for repairs. She reloaded and attempted the trip again and
was lost. Owned by Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee. Master: Capt. D. H.
Brown(d).
Sources :
hgl,nsp,polk,es,fw,eb
————————————————————————±
T.J. WAFFLE
Other names :
none
Official no. : C130767
Type at loss :
propeller scow, wood, bulk freight "rabbit"
Build info :
1914, Joseph Paradis, Westport, Ont.
Specs :
105x23x8, 149gc 75nc
Date of loss :
1919, Sep 22
Place of loss :
Between Oswego, NY & Ducks
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
8 [all]
Carrying :
coal
Detail : She went missing in heavy
weather while bound Fairhaven, NY for Kingston, Ont. Some wreckage came ashore
at Burt Pt., near Oswego. Much of it was so thoroughly splintered that
speculation was that she had exploded her boiler.
Owned out of
Kingston by James Swift.
Built for use on
the Rideau Canal.
Sources :
mmgl,csqw,csv,lm,ns2,h,win
————————————————————————±
DAVID WAGSTAFF
Other names :
none
Official no. :
6143
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1863, I.W. Nicholas, Vermilion, OH
Specs :
137x29x11, 311g 295n
Date of loss :
1890, Nov 25
Place of loss : a
few miles west of North Fox Island
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
building stone
Detail : While she was bound Portage, MI
[Lake Superior] for Milwaukee, her heavy cargo shifted and burst her hull,
causing her to founder quicky. Her crew made it to Gull Island in her small
boat, where they were cared for by local fishermen.
Rebuilt, 1883.
Out of Cleveland.
Sources :
polk,mv,hgl,eas,h,wb,sb,nsp,bb,rls
————————————————————————±
WAH-NE-TAH
Other names :
none
Official no. :
208598
Type at loss :
gas screw, passenger & package freight "packet"
Build info :
1910, Oshkosh, WI
Specs :
46x9x4, 13g 12n
Date of loss :
1916, Apr 21
Place of loss :
Oshkosh, WI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
none of 22
Carrying :
?
Detail : She caught fire and burned to
total loss.
Probably built for
use on Fox R.
Sources :
mv
————————————————————————±
WAHNIPITAE
Other names :
also seen as WAHNAPITAE*
Official no. :
81115
Type at loss :
schooner-barge, wood, "log boat"
Build info :
1886, J. Davidson, W. Bay City
hull#14
Specs :
260x51x11, 1431g 1360n
Date of loss : 1890,
Oct 26
Place of loss :
Cleveland harbor entrance
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
1 or 2 of 8
Carrying :
1.8 million bd. ft. lumber
Detail : She was bound Ashland, WI for
Fairport, OH, in tow of the prop JOHN M. NICOL(qv). A gale arose and the NICOL
cast her off to ride out the storm off the harbor entrance until tugs could
retrieve her and bring her in. Before they could she was shoved against the
breakwater by a crosswind and wrecked.
The crew made it to the breakwater, where they were rescued by the tugs
TOM MAYTHAM and H.L. CHAMBERLIN and the USLS.
Owner: Loveland Lumber Co.
She was the
largest wooden vessel in the world when built - constructed to carry whole
unsawn logs to the mills. Capacity: 2 million board feet.
Luxury yacht SAY
WHEN struck the wreck and sank in 1895.
*The river in Canada after which she is named
has this spelling, and she appears often in the press this way.
Sources :
vbs,sbs,phr,h,ledc,nsp,hgl,mpl,usls,es
————————————————————————±
WAKE UP
Other names :
also spelled WAKEUP and WAKE-UP
Official no. :
26242
Type at loss :
scow-schooner, wood
Build info :
1864, D. Bailey, Madison, Ohio
Specs :
70 t.
Date of loss :
1878, Sep 2
Place of loss :
near Port Hope, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
(storm)
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
85,000 ft. lumber, shingles, cedar posts
Detail :
She was found ashore and reported a total wreck on the 4th.
She was stripped of her outfit and cargo, and by the 10th she was reported broken
up.
Rebuilt in 1873
Sources :
jb,wmn,wl,mv
————————————————————————±
BELLE WALBRIDGE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
2234
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1857, G.W. Jones, Cleveland
Specs :
138x26x10, 271g 257n
Date of loss :
1886, Nov 22
Place of loss : at
Sheboygan, WI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
telegraph poles
Detail : She collided with a pier
and sank at the harbor entrance in a SE
gale. Her crew escaped to the government pier.
Major repairs,
1867, 74, 1880
Sources :
mv,polk,phr,nsp,h,hgl,rsl
————————————————————————±
H. S. WALBRIDGE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
11280
Type at loss :
schooner-barge, wood
Build info :
1862, Edwards, Milan, Oh
Specs :
125x25x11, 215g 204n
Date of loss :
1896, Jul 16
Place of loss : 2
mi W of Port Colborn, near Long Point
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
light
Detail :
She went ashore, striking a reef, and was abandoned. She stayed inplace
until she finally broke up in a storm in early November, her wreckage washing
ashore near Sugar Loaf. Out of St. Clair, Mich. Master: George McClure
Rebuilt, 1878
Sources :
bbas,hgl,mv,polk,wmn,nsp
————————————————————————±
S. C. WALBRIDGE
Other names :
also seen as SARAH C. WALBRIDGE
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
brig, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1844, Hewett, Conneaut, OH
Specs :
105x24x10, 237 t.
Date of loss :
1866, Jun 18
Place of loss : 15
miles E of Cleveland
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail :
She was driven ashore and wrecked in a gale. Owned by Capt. J. R. Scott
of Detroit. Master: Capt. McAdam. At the time it was reported that Capt.
Scott had lost the schooner MARY
WILLIAMS within sight of this wreck and was to lose the ANDES nearby in 1868.
Rebuilt in 1859
and 63.
Sources :
hgl,wl,rsl,nsp,wmn
————————————————————————±
L.C. WALDO
Other names :
later RIVERTON(1915) and MOHAWK DEER(1944)
Official no. :
141421
Type at loss :
propeller, steel, bulk freight
Build info :
1896, F. Wheeler, W. Bay City
hull# 112
Specs :
451x48x28, 4466g 3519n
Date of loss :
1913, Nov 11
Place of loss : on
Gull Rock, off Keweenaw Pt.
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
iron ore
Detail : She was driven ashore by a huge
gale. The Lifesaving Service crew struggled mightily for almost 4 days but
finally rescued her people. The ship was quickly delared a total loss, but was later recovered and
rebuilt.
Sold Canadian 1915
[C137898]. While enroute to a scrapyard in LaSpezia, Italy, she broke tow of
the Yugoslav tug JUNAK and went ashore near Portofino, Italy, November 5, 1967.
Total loss.
Originally
387x48x28, 4244g 3290n, enlarged in 1905
Rebuilt 1914
Sources :
eas,vbs,gsgl,sol,ttgl,mh,h,ns5,lol,gwgl,lss
————————————————————————±
WALES
Other names :
none
Official no. : C
?
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1881, Kingston, Ont.
Specs :
110x19x11, 182gc 152nc
Date of loss :
1895
Place of loss :
near Midland, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
abandoned
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
?
Detail : Shown as simply abandoned,
perhaps not as a result of a wreck.
May be rebuild of
prop built by W. Chaffey, Brockville, 1864 and reported rebuilt to barge again
in 1881
Sources :
polk,mmgl,clu,lhdc
————————————————————————±
WALK-IN-THE-WATER
Other names : usually referred to
at the time as simply “the steamboat”
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & freight
Build info :
1818, Noah Brown, Black Rock [Buffalo], NY
Specs :
135x32x8, 339 t.
Date of loss :
1821, Oct 31
Place of loss :
Point Abino, Canadian shore near Buffalo
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
passengers
Detail : She sprang a leak in a rising storm
just after leaving Buffalo on her usual trip to Detroit. After a struggle of
several hours, she was driven on rocky point near thw Pt Abino lighthouse by a westerly gale and pounded to pieces. Master:
Capt. Jedediah Rogers. Owned by a syndicate of investors from New York City and
Albany.
Her frequent
comings and goings during 1818-21 were very much in the newspapers in Detroit,
but her loss is mentioned not at all. This was because the steamer was
virtually the only source of news from the east. Her enrollment was surrendered
at Buffalo Apr 5, 1822, annotated “said Steam Boat having been wrecked and
broken up.”
She was the 1st
steam-powered vessel above Niagara. Her low-pressure engine was imported from Queens,
New York. She made her first passage on her regular route - Buffalo-Detroit -
in 44 hours and 10 minutes, stopping for wood three times enroute. After this
wreck her engine went to steamer SUPERIOR(qv) and later ran a lumber mill in
Saginaw, MI.
Her name comes from
the reported exclamation of a Native American chieftain upon seeing the seminal
steamboat CLERMONT proceeding up the Hudson River under her own power in 1807.
“Walks in the Water,” he stated.
Sources :
mod,is(3-69),mol,sol,gs,lol,is,ledc,nsp,hgl,mpl,wl,eas,ewe,edd
————————————————————————±
C.H. WALKER
Other names :
none
Official no. :
4567
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1857, Quayle & Martin, Cleveland (maybe 1864, Chicago)
Specs :
303 t.
Date of loss :
1876, Sep 26
Place of loss : off
Lakeport, MI, 9 mi above the head of the St. Clair R.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
hull failure
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
iron ore
Detail : Bound L’Anse, MI, for Erie, PA,
she was found to be leaking while crossing the mouth of the Saginaw Bay. Her
skipper and crew made a valiant effort to keep her afloat to Port Huron, but
she foundered shortly after they
abandoned her just short of the river mouth. She went down in the shipping
channel in 7 fathoms of water with her masts emergent. Much of her cargo
salvaged by the wrecker MONITOR in summer, 1877. Owned by Carse, O' Brien and
Couch, out of Erie. Master: Capt. Crowley.
Major repairs in
1871.
Sources :
mv,slh,nsp,hgl,es,rsl,wl
————————————————————————±
GEORGE H. WALKER
Other names :
also seen as G. H. WALKER
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1837, John Ripson, Selkirk, NY
Specs :
83x20x8, 124 t.
Date of loss :
1853, Oct 27
Place of loss :
near Madison dock, OH
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail :
She was bound Port Burwell, Ont. for Cleveland when she sprang a leak 40 miles out and sank
to her decks. Buoyed by her cargo, she drifted to near shore, where her prople
were rescued by the local inhabitants. Out of Cleveland. Master: Capt. Hart.
Sources :
nsp,hgl,rp
————————————————————————±
IDA WALKER
Other names :
built as schooner NEW DOMINION, renamed in 1880
Official no. : C80772
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1867, W. Yeomans, Sophiasburg, Ont.
Specs :
109x26x9, 218 gc 187 nc
Date of loss :
1886, Nov 18
Place of loss :
near Wellington, Ont. [Bald Head Isl.]
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
1
Carrying :
coal
Detail : She was driven out of Weller's
Bay while loading. She dragged anchor to a reef and later broke up. The rescue
of her crew by Wellington lifesavers was the first ever by the famous Dobbins
surfboat, which became standard equipment for the USLS. Registration closed Oct
28, 1902. Owned by Allen & Co. of Sarnia
Rebuilt, 1880,
major repairs, 1885
Sources :
mmgl,csqw,is,nsp,osdo,hgl,do
————————————————————————±
JAMES A. WALKER
Other names :
none
Official no. : C92383
Type at loss :
propeller steam tug, wood
Build info :
1887, J. Gaskin, Kingston
Specs :
105x20x10, 184gc 98nc
Date of loss :
1898, Oct 23
Place of loss :
Nicholson Isl, W of Wellington, Ont.
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none of 11
Carrying :
none
Detail : Bound Oswego for Montreal with
2 barges, she was driven into shallows by a SE gale and foundered 100 yards off
the beach. All but one crew abandoned her in a small lifeboat. The remaining
man floated ashore on the wheelhouse roof. Master: Capt. John Boyd.
Engine removed and
hull salvaged by late 1899.
Owned by Montreal
Transportation Co., used as barge tug
Sources :
mmgl,csqw,h,csv,osdo,win,hgl,nsp
————————————————————————±
MARY WALKER
Other names : none
Official no. :
50178
Type at loss :
canal boat, wood
Build info :
1866, Chicago
Specs : 83 t.
Date of loss :
1883, Nov 1
Place of loss : at
Chicago
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none mentioned
Carrying :
?
Detail :
The large steamers JOHN B. LYON(qv) was being towed stern foremost by
two tugs through the tight
"Collision Bend," on the South Branch of the Chicago River, when she
swung too wide. The unfortunate MARY WALKER was tied at the the wall nearby,
was struck by the LYON and " crushed up like a silk hat under a fat
lady," never to sail again.
Sources :
nsp,wmhs,wl,wmn
————————————————————————±
C.B. WALLACE
Other names : built as steamer J.V. LUTTS, renamed in 1891
Official no. :
76124
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1880, I. Gillespie, Port Clinton, OH
Specs :
102x18x3, 99g 82n
Date of loss :
1897, Sep 25
Place of loss : at
Toledo
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying :
no cargo
Detail : Burned to a total loss at her
dock – source of fire unkown. Owned by M. I. Wilcox.
Sources :
mv,polk,sol,mpl,hcgl,nsp
————————————————————————±
J. S. WALLACE
Other names :
also seen as JOHN S. WALLACE
Official no. :
12971
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1853, H. Williams, St. Joseph, Mich
Specs :
80x16x6, 57 t. [79 t. om]
Date of loss :
1876, Apr 4
Place of loss : at
Sheboygan, Wis
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
cordwood
Detail :
She ran ashore during a SE gale and became a total loss. Her skipper
mistook the old Sheboygan bridge pier for the harbor pier.
Also sunk near
Holland, Mich, in 1869
Sources :
nsp,mv,rsl,wl,hgl,wmn
————————————————————————±
LEWIS WALLACE*
Other names :
built as MIRANDA, renamed before 1884 [seen more often as LOUIS WALLACE,
LEWIS is from mvus]
Official no. :
16625
Type at loss :
propeller steam tug, wood
Build info :
1865, Barbage, Grand Haven , MI
Specs :
54x16x7, 41g 26n
Date of loss :
1893, Aug 5*
Place of loss :
Portage Lake, Mich, near lake entrance
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying :
none
Detail : She caught fire near the hold
at night and burned to a total loss at
the pier of the Hsrbor of Refuge, opposite Onekama, Michigan. Out of Onekama,
owner and master: Capt. John D. Padden.
*Sep 22 is more
often given, but this date is from contemporary newspapers
Rebuilt 1880 at
Saginaw after 1879 fire
Sources :
mv,polk,lmdc,lhl,,phr,nsp
————————————————————————±
ROBERT WALLACE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
110518
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1880, W. H. Radcliffe, Cleveland
Specs :
209x36x18, 1190g 905n
Date of loss :
1902, Nov 17
Place of loss : SE
of Two Harbors, MN
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
iron ore
Detail : She was downbound towing the
like-laden barge ASHLAND in a gale. The wildly bucking barge tore the stern off
the WALLACE, causing her to swamp and sink. ASHLAND coasted in to take off the
WALLACE's crew. Master: Capt. J. W. Nicholson. Owner: James Corrigan.
A stranding and
fire almost spelled her end in Nov, 1886, near Marquette, with her usual
towbarge, DAVID WALLACE.
Sources :
mv,polk,nsp,gwgl,is(3-60),ns1,ws,lss,mpl
————————————————————————±
WILLIAM WALLACE
Other names :
also seen as WM. WALLACE, SIR WILLIAM WALLACE
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1856, Geo. Ford, Goderich, Ont.
[1848, Whitby also given]
Specs :
52x14x6, 32 t.
Date of loss :
1857, Oct 9
Place of loss : one
mile off Toronto light, Toronto
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
4 [all]
Carrying :
wood
Detail :
Bound Whitby, Ont. for Toronto,she foundered in a gale with all hands.
Some crewmen clung to her emergent masts, but all attempts to get to them
failed, and they perished. Master: Capt. McCaine(d). Date of loss is from
newspaper account, but NAC document surrender of 1891 puts date of loss at
“about 9 years ago.” She doesn’t appear on 1866 or later underwriter’s lists, but may have become an
American vessel before 1860.
Sources :
nsp,mmgl,hgl,nsp,wmn
————————————————————————±
WALRUS
Other names :
none
Official no. :
26225
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1857, Lafrinier & Stevenson, Cleveland
Specs :
136x26x12, 264g
Date of loss :
1868, Nov 7
Place of loss :
Gray's Reef, NW of Beaver Isls.
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
fog
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
16,500 bu barley
Detail : Bound Chicago for Oswego, she
ran on Gray's Reef in a heavy fog, was holed and sank in an exposed position.
She was broken up by wave action within a few days. out of Chicago, owned by
Halsted & Jacobs.
Major repairs in
1862, rebuilt in 1866-7
Sources :
mv,hgl,slh,ssm,mpl,nsp,bb
————————————————————————±
WALSCHIFF
Other names :
none
Official no. : German 96280
Type at loss :
motor ship, steel, bulk and package freight
Build info :
1952, J.G. Hitzler & Maschinenfabrik, Lubeck, Germany
Specs :
206x32x17, 882g 756n
Date of loss :
1952, Oct 2
Place of loss :
Opposite Point Edward
Lake : St Clair R
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
1
Carrying :
325 metric tons sheet steel
Detail : This saltie was rammed
amidships by the big ore boat PIONEER[US203941] in a mixup of passing signals.
One fatality was the WALSCHIFF’s Canadian pilot, who died of a heart attack.
WALSCHIFF was later raised, given a temporary patch and towed all the way back
to Germany for permanent repairs. Out of Hamburg, Germany; owned by
Paitenroed-Walschiff Corp. Master: Capt. Thomas Nissen.
Sources :
s,is,win,mpl,uscg
————————————————————————±
PHILIP WALTER
Other names :
also seen as PHILIP WALTERS and P.H. WALTER
Official no. : 20414
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1872, L. Jackson or G.H. Jackman, Sandusky, OH
Specs :
94x22x6, 102g 51n
Date of loss :
1887, Jun 20
Place of loss : 3
mi off Lorain, OH*
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
8 of 12
Carrying :
gen merch, stone
Detail :
Bound Marblehead for Cleveland, she capsized and sank in a short-lived
storm. The captain, mate and two of his children survived , while his wife and
two other children, plus the rest of the crew, drowned, Several other vessels
were seriously damaged or sunk by hitting her wreckage, including the steamer
EGYPTIAN. Master: Capt. J. G. Gillespie.
*Many sources say
she was lost off Sandusky, but Sandusky historian G. Wendt and nsp places the
loss near Lorain.
rebuilt, 1880
Sources :
mv,www,polk,h,ledc,le,nsp,wb,hgl,sb,mpl,eas,es,wmn
————————————————————————
WALTERS - See WATERS W. BRAMAN
————————————————————————±
JOHN WALTERS
Other names :
none Built on hull of the
Canadian schooner SARAH BOND, built at Kingston in 1852 by Thurston, later LOCH
LOMOND
Official no. : C71205
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1874, W. Redmond, Picton, Ont.
Specs :
109x24x8, 176gc 176nc
Date of loss :
1899*
Place of loss : SE
tip of Russel Isl., near Tobermory, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
(storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
?
Detail : Sank just offshore.
Owned by Henry
Patterson of Chatham.
*year also given as 1883
Registration
closed 12/31/1897(!?)
Sources :
mmgl,polk,eas,slh,mpl,do
————————————————————————±
GEORGE H. WAND
Other names :
none also seen as GEORGE H. WAUD*
Official no. :
10152
Type at loss :
schooner-barge, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1866, R. Williams, Buffalo
Specs :
139x31x11, 358g 340n
Date of loss :
1902, Apr 17
Place of loss : off
the mouth of the Black R., Port Huron, Mich
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : collision
Loss of life : none
Carrying :
?
Detail : In tow of the tug ANNIE LAURIE,
which was returning to port with a leak in her hull, she sheered during passing
and was run into at 2 a.m. by the big upbound bulker LAGONDA. She sank quickly
to her rails, and the freighter went on the nearby middleground. Part of her
crew got off in her yawl, while the rest were rescued by lifeboat from the
LAGONDA. Purchased the same week by C. E. Koch of Sandusky, Oh., and commanded
by Capt. B. LaForge. Koch had also owned the FOSTORIA, sunk nearby in a similar
incident a year earlier, also in tow of ANNIE LAURIE.
Went ashore and declared a total loss in
September, 1878, at Sand Beach, Lake Huron . Not recovered until May, 1880. Converted from a schooner to a
schooner-barge after this accident.
Ashore near Erie,
Pa. in 1872 and declared a total loss.
*WAUD is probably
her actual name, as that is what marine reporters almost always called her.
WAND, however, is what shows up on nearly all official lists, and therefore is
used here.
Sources :
nsp,mv,polk,phr,wmn
————————————————————————±
WANDERER
Other names :
none
Official no. :
26239
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1861, Doville,
Specs :
63 t.
Date of loss :
1874, Oct 12 or 13
Place of loss : 20
mi out of
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
5 [all ]
Carrying :
coal
Detail :
She sank in a storm. After her masts were seen projecting above the
water on the 15th, there was speculation for more than a week as to
which vessel it was. Owned and sailed by
Capt. James Whitworth(d),
Ashore on Kelley's
Island and expected to go to pieces in April of the previous year.
Sources :
nsp,mv,rsl,wl,bb,wmn
————————————————————————
WANDERER -
former entry deleted (1883) - vessel recovered, lasted to 20th century
————————————————————————±
A. B. WARD
Other names :
also seen as AARON WARD
Official no. :
383
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1854,
Specs :
32 t. [80 t. om]
Date of loss :
1870, Apr 24
Place of loss : 20 mi
NE of Milwaukee
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
3 [all]
Carrying :
shingles & potatoes
Detail :
Bound Pentwater for
Owned by John
Smith,
not in '69 mvus
Sources :
hgl,sagl,is,bb,rsl,nsp
————————————————————————±
EBER WARD
Other names :
none
Official no. :
136001
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1888, F. Wheeler,
Specs :
213x37x22, 1344g 1038n
Date of loss :
1909, Apr 9
Place of loss :
just W of S pier of
Type of loss :
ice
Loss of life :
5 of 16
Carrying :
corn
Detail : She struck a growler* and sank
in less than 10 minutes. The survivors were picked up by the steamer
Member of Boland
Fleet.
Rebuilt from
package freighter to bulker in 1900(?)
*Floating ice
cake.
Wreck located in
1980.
Sources :
mv,vbs,sbs,ssm,mol,slh,ns1,lssc,h,phr,mpl
————————————————————————
JOHN P. WARD - See J.B. SEAVERNS
————————————————————————±
JOSEPH WARD
Other names :
also seen as JO. WARD, JOHN WARD
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1844,
Specs :
108x23x9, 216 t.
Date of loss :
1851, Aug 4
Place of loss : at
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
9,600 bu. corn, 30 bbl whiskey
Detail :
She attemoted to come into the harbor in a gale, but was forced to lay
at anchor and ride it out. Her anchors eventually slipped, driving her into a
new pier, where she broke up, a total loss. Master: Capt. Allen.
Sources :
hgl,wmn,wl,wmhs,bb
————————————————————————±
MARY WARD
Other names :
built as SIMCOE, renamed NORTH in
‘64, renamed MARY WARD in 1870
Official no. : C none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1864, A. Cantin,
Specs :
139x26X12, (345gc) 236nc
Date of loss :
1872, Nov 24
Place of loss :
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
8
Carrying :
coal oil & salt
Detail : She ran aground due to a navigational
error, then broke her back in a north'r which struck the next day. Owner: John
C. Stephens(d) et. al, Owen Sound. Master: Capt. William Johns. The area where
she was lost is still called "Mary Ward Ledges."
Extensively
rebuilt in 1869-1870 at Wallaceburg, after a major fire at Port Lambton [Baby's
Point] in November, 1867. She was not raised until October of the following
year.
Sources :
mmgl,hgl,csv,win,clu,mol,sol,ns1,h,lhdc,nsp,st,mpl,rsl,do
————————————————————————±
SUSAN WARD
Other names :
none
Official no. :
22402
Type at loss :
barge or schooner-barge, wood
Build info :
1862, J.N. Jones, Detroit as a sidewheeler*
Specs :
166x22x9 228 gt
Date of loss :
1885, Sep 9
Place of loss : at
Oscoda, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : Moored to Oscoda Salt &
Lumber Co. dock when a terrific storm sank her, then tore her deck off and
proceeded to pound her to splinters from the inside and out. Owned by Oscoda
Salt & Lumber Co.
Former passenger
sidewheeler built for Eber Ward, converted to barge, Apr, 1870.
*Builder also
given as Wm. Cuddy,
Sources :
mv,polk,phr,lhl,nsp,slh,hdm,hgl,eh,rsl,wl
————————————————————————±
JOHN F. WARNER
Other names :
none [earliest enrollments call her J.F. WARNER]
Official no. :
12768
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1855, Quayle & Martin, Cleveland
Specs :
127x26x11, 200 gt, 191 nt
(340 t.
Date of loss :
1890, Oct 13
Place of loss :
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none mentioned
Carrying :
lumber & lath
Detail : She was bound for Toledo, in
tow of steamer WILLIAM B. COWIE. She sheltered in the bay in a storm, but
parted her chains and struck a bar near
the river mouth where she later broke in
two. Owned by Henning of Bay City, MI
Made several trips
to Europe in the 50’s and 60’s, a trade for which she was built, but which
never panned out..
major repairs,
1870, 1879, 81. Ashore near Alpena and declared a total loss in November, 1869
and reduced to a barge after her recovery.
Sources :
polk,mv,phr,nsp,slh,hgl,wmn,mdwl
————————————————————————±
M.R. WARNER
Other names :
none
Official no. : 90480
Type at loss :
schooner-barge, wood
Build info :
1873, Toledo
Specs :
199x34x14, 700g 665n
Date of loss :
1893, Nov 3
Place of loss :
Sand Isl., near Bayfield.
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
timbers
Detail : Consort of steamer SUPERIOR,
she broke loose and went ashore in a gale after drifting halfway up the lake.
She broke up the following March after several salvage attempts failed.
Out of
She was a major
salvage job taking several weeks after stranding near
Sources :
mv,nsp,polk,lss,hgl,wb
————————————————————————±
HOMER WARREN
Other names :
built as passenger steamer
Official no. : C130222
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1863, Peck & Masters, Cleveland
as a passenger steamer [
Specs :
177x30x12, 447gc 308nc
Date of loss :
1919, Oct 28
Place of loss : off
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
9*[all]
Carrying :
corn
Detail : Bound
*19 also given
Converted from
passenger to bulker at James Davidson shipyard,
Major repairs
1880,83, rebuilt, 1879
Sources :
mv,polk,sol,ns2,h,csv,win,mpl,wmn,jmk
————————————————————————±
WARRENKO
Other names :
built as CSA blockade runner LET HER BE [i.e. Letter B], renamed CHICORA
in 1868, last name in 1921
Official no. : C53588
Type at loss :
salvage barge, iron former
sidewheel steamer
Build info :
1864, W. Miller,
Specs :
228x26x11, 930gt
Date of loss :
1938, Jul 7**
Place of loss :
near
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
?
Detail : She was rammed at her dock by
the steamer SPRUCE BAY (or ELMBAY) and sank. Remains were reportedly still
visible in Bateau Channel in 1973.
She had a long and
interesting career. She started out as a Confederate blocakade runner and was
brought to the lakes in 1868 [cut in two to pass the St. Lawrence locks and
Welland Canal - reassembled at Buffalo]. Used as a military transport in Reil
Rebellion, 1870. She became a very famous steamer on the Lakes due to her sleek
lines and her history, but was very expensive to run.
Rebuilt in 1877-8,
90. Retired from powered service and laid up at Toronto in 1914.
Sank in storm at
Toronto in 1919, raised, stripped and
converted to a barge in 1920.
**also given as 1937 & 39, and as Sep
7. Sold Canadian in 1866.
Photo of WARRENKO as steamer CHICORA
Sources :
mmgl,csv,csqw,win,h,eh,mpl
————————————————————————±
HENRY WARRINGTON
Other names : see
below
Official no. :
11857
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1868, J.M. Jones, Detroit
Specs :
142x27x10, 257 gt, .
Date of loss :
1911, Aug 21
Place of loss :
near Charlevoix, MI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : She was driven into the
shallows by a summer gale. Later pounded to pieces
Built as HENRY
WARRINGTON and wrecked on Lake Huron in 1869. Rebuilt and sold to the U. S. Light
House Service, who renamed her WARRINGTON. Sold to Hines Lumber Co. in 1910,
given her original name and converted to a bulk freight lumber hooker.
Sources :
lhl,mv,phr,ns2,lmdc,slh,mpl,eas
————————————————————————±
WASAGA
Other names :
built as propeller WISSAHICKON
Official no. : C117084
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, package freight
Build info :
1876, Union Dry Dock Co., Buffalo
US# 80598
Specs :
244x36x15, 1745 t.
Date of loss :
1910, Nov 7
Place of loss : off
Copper Harbor, MI
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
?
Detail : She sought shelter from a big
gale in front of Copper Harbor and dropped anchor, then caught fire and burned
to waterline and sank.
Sold Canadian in
1907.
She was built to
replace the iron propeller MERCHANT(qv) of the Union Steamboat Co.
Sources :
csv,mv,polk,win,sol,is,ns2,mmgl,mpl,df,bb,nsp
————————————————————————
WASHINGTON - See GEORGE
WASHINGTON, LADY WASHINGTON
————————————————————————±
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package frt
Build info :
1833, Huron, OH
Specs :
605 t.
Date of loss :
1833, Oct 9
Place of loss : on
Long Point
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none or 1
Carrying :
passengers
Detail : She broke her steampipe in
heavy weather and was placed at the mercy of the wind. She was blown ashore on
Long Point, where she became a total wreck. She was on the return leg of her
very first trip, as was the WASHINGTON lost five years later [SEE BELOW].
Sources :
lhl,hgl,nsp,wl
————————————————————————±
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Other names :
none also seen as just
WASHINGTON
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package frt
Build info :
1838, Capt. Savage, Ashtabula, OH
Specs :
308 t.
Date of loss :
1838, Jun 15
Place of loss : off
Silver Creek, near Dunkirk, NY
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
30 to 50, about 50 more were saved
Carrying :
passengers
Detail : She caught fire near her
boilers on the return of her maiden voyage and was destroyed, though the hull
could still float well enough to be towed in to Silver Creek the next day. Later
opinion said that deadly time was wasted in trying to extinguish the blaze
instead of running her the 3 or 4 miles
to shore, and in stopping to lower a boat during the run. Survivors swam or
drifted 2 miles to shore, or were picked up by the steamer NORTH AMERICAN,
which had seen the blaze from a distance and had come to the rescue. Owned in
Ashtabula, Oh. By Henry Hubbard et. al.
Master: Capt. Nathaniel W. Brown.
Sources :
hgl,lhl,eas,is(2-60),nsp
————————————————————————±
WASP
Other names : ?
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
(1817, Huron, OH)
Specs :
(40x12x4, 17 t.)
Date of loss :
1818, Nov (15)
Place of loss :
near Cunningham Creek
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
?
Detail : She was driven ashore, bilged
and wrecked. If she was the vessel shown parenthetically above, she was
recovered.
Sources :
hgl,is,wl
————————————————————————±
WATER WITCH
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1861, J. Wolverton, Newport, MI
Specs :
164x24x9, 458 gt, 369 nt
Date of loss :
1863, Nov 11
Place of loss :
last seen off Au Sable Pt, abreast Oscoda
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
28 [all]
Carrying :
passengers, copper, merchandise
Detail : She foundered in a southwest
gale. The schooner J.D. NORRIS, also fighting the storm, could see the
propeller and said she was making good weather of it when she suddenly
disappeared. Wreckage later washed ashore on Pte Aux Barques. She had been
bound Chicago for Sarnia, Ont. Some evidence suggested that she may have
suffered an explosion. Master: Capt. George Ryder(d), Detroit. Owned by the
Ward Line.
She had an unusual
“cog-wheel” engine with a transverse walking beam, according to several
newspaper accounts. Her engine reportedly came from the sidewheeler FASHION,
wrecked in 1856(qv). She was often noted
as the fastest propeller on the lakes, reputedly able to reach 18 mph! She was
also equipped with an early watertight bulkhead 30 ft abaft her stem, made of
oak timbers and India-rubber. Other innovations included an interlinked
windlass and capstan and a new design of pony engine.
Sources :
hgl,eas,hmc,lhl,is(4-70),gs,slh,sol,h,lhdc,nsp
————————————————————————±
WATER WITCH
Other names :
also seen as WATERWITCH
Official no. :
C42742
Type at loss :
bark, wood, 3-mast
Build info :
1853, A. Cantin, Montreal
Specs :
132x24x11, 365 t.
Date of loss :
1869, Oct 24
Place of loss :
several miles off Timber Island
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
iron
Detail :
A squall and rapid change of wind direction knocked her down on her beam
ends. She was slow to right herself and after she did was found to be leaking
profusely. The crew abandoned ship in her tiny yawl and were soon after rescued
by the American schooner E.P. DORR. The WITCH quickly sank in 2-300 feet of
water. Owned by Jas. Swift of Kingston. Master: Capt. Barnes.
Major repair in
1862
Sources : nsp,hgl,clu,rsl,mdwl,wmn,bb
————————————————————————±
WATERLOO
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, ferry
Build info :
1840, Black Rock, NY
Specs :
126x18x6, 141 t.
Date of loss :
1849, Oct 17
Place of loss :
Niagara R.
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying :
?
Detail : Burned to a total loss at her
dock at Black Creek. She was a loss of $6,000. Master and owner: Capt. Sylvanus
Staring, Buffalo.
Part of her engine
was once in the WALK-IN-THE WATER(qv) and the SUPERIOR(qv).
Rebuilt and
enlarged in 1844, originally 90 ft..
Stranded and
wrecked on Georgian Bay in 1846.
Sources :
hgl,eas,lhl,slh,is,wl,bcw,wl
————————————————————————
WATERTOWN - See also UNION
————————————————————————±
WATERTOWN
Other names :
none
Official no. :
C none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood
Build info :
1864, Geo. Thurston, Kingston, Ont.
Specs :
133x17x8, 179 t.
Date of loss :
1865, Sep 6
Place of loss : at
Cape Vincent, NY
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
4
Carrying :
?
Detail :
Caught fire at her dock while laying over for the night. She was cut loose
to save the dock and drifted down to Featherbed Shoal, Carleton Island, where
she burned to the water’s edge - $20,000 loss. The fire apparently originated
in the cook's cabin and was well advanced before being discovered.. For some
time it was thought only a single crewman had died in the accident, but later
the skeletons of a woman and two children were found in the burned-out hulk.
Owned by Kinghorn and Hinckley. Another WATERTOWN was built on the hull, but
was apparently registered as a new vessel.
Sources :
mmgl,hgl,nsp,rnc,wl
————————————————————————±
ALEX WATSON
Other names :
none also seen as ALEXANDER
WATSON, above is official
Official no. : C none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood
Build info :
1870, McDonnell, Wallaceburg, Ont.
Specs :
90x24x6, 64 t.
Date of loss :
1871, Jun 27
Place of loss : At
Lambton, Ont. (Baby’s Point also given)
Lake : St Clair R
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
cordwood
Detail : She caught fire from an
overheated boiler abreast of Lambton and made it to the dock. The crew escaped,
then the blazing vessel broke loose and drifted to Walpole I., where she burned
out and sank. Out of Wallaceburg, Ont. owned by Capt. Weston & A. Watson.
Sources :
mmgl,csv,nsp,hgl,st
————————————————————————±
FLORA WATSON
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1854, Milan, Oh
Specs :
290 t.
Date of loss :
1862, Nov 2
Place of loss : 2
mi from the mouth of the Niagara River
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
grain
Detail :
Bound Toledo for Oswego, she came into collision with the ancient (War
of 1812 veteran) schooner HARRIET ROSS and sank in 24-30 feet of water. The
accident occurred about 4 in the morning.
Sources :
km,hgl,wmn,wl,nsp
————————————————————————±
MARY WATSON
Other names :
none
Official no. : C none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1853, G. Ford, Goderich, Ont.
Specs :
72x17x8, 69 t.
Date of loss :
1858, Oct 10
Place of loss : off
Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life : none mentioned
Carrying :
coal and salt
Detail : Reported ashore near the
"north pier" and wrecked in a storm. Reported "a total
wreck" by the end of the month. Owned by the Seymours of Goderich.
Sources :
mmgl,hgl,clu,slh,nsp,rnc,km
————————————————————————±
ANNIE WATT
Other names :
none
Official no. : C85326
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, pass. & pkg freight "packet"
Build info :
1884, A. Hackett, Lion's Head, Ont.
Specs :
75x16x6, 62gc 42nc
Date of loss :
1890, Aug 13
Place of loss : off
Gunn Point, Ontario
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
small cargo of merchandise
Detail : She collided with steamer
ALDERSON and sank while bound for Lion's Head. Location also given as
"near Barrier Island." Official records show her lost on the 16th,
but newspapers of the 14th report her sunk the previous day.
Out of Owen Sound
Burned and
declared total loss Nov 8, 1889, but rebuilt.
Sources :
mmgl,slh,h,csv,win,hgl,es3-1,nsp
————————————————————————
WATTS - see WORTS
————————————————————————±
WAUBIC
Other names :
later ERIE ISLE(1938) and PRINCE NOVA(1942)
Official no. :
122555
Type at loss :
propeller, steel, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1909, Collingwood Shipbuilding, Collingwood, Ont.
Specs :
134x25x9, 504gc 224nc
Date of loss :
1938, Jan 18
Place of loss :
Kingsville, Ont
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
?
Detail : She was gutted by fire at E
pier and declared a total loss. Later rebuilt.
Out of
Collingwood.
Rebuilt and
renamed ERIE ISLE after this accident. As PRINCE NOVA, burned to total loss at
Pictou, NS, Jul 6 1959.
Sources :
csv,mmgl,win,h,ledc
————————————————————————±
WAUBUNO
Other names :
none
Official no. : C
none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1865,M. Simpson, Port Robinson (Thorold), Ont.
Specs :
135x19x7, 465gc 293nc
Date of loss :
1879, Nov 22
Place of loss :
near Parry Sound, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
24 [all]
Carrying :
passengers
Detail : Bound Collingwood for Parry
Sound, she sailed into a storm and disappeared. Last seen by Christian Isl.
lightkeeper. It was not known what had happened to her until her inverted hull
was discovered ashore the following spring near Moose Point, Ont., S of Parry
Sound.
Owned by Great
Northern Transit Co. Master: Capt. W. H. Burkit(d).
Wreck located by
divers in 1959
Sources :
hgl,win,csv,mmgl,is(4-60,4-65),ls,slh,gs,sol,h,lhdc,eh,mpl,es
————————————————————————
GEORGE WAUD - See GEORGE WAND
————————————————————————±
WAUKEGAN
Other names :
built as tug COMMODORE, renamed in 1920
Official no. :
222863
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1919, Sturgeon Bay Dry Dock, Sturgeon Bay, WI hull #2479
Specs :
143x30x17, 763g 517n
Date of loss :
1935, Dec 5
Place of loss :
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
none
Detail : She was destroyed by fire at
her winter dock, along with KENOSHA, LUCIA
A. SIMPSON, PETOSKEY & SWIFT(qv, all).
Built as a U.S.
government tug. Converted to passenger/freight vessel in 1920. Sister of tug
KENOSHA.
Sources :
ns4,rkr,mv,mpl
————————————————————————±
WAUKESHA
Other names :
built as schooner NABOB, renamed before 1884
Official no. :
18175
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1862, Rand, Manitowoc (also given: Milwaukee)
Specs :
138x27x12, 310g 295n
Date of loss :
1896, Nov 7
Place of loss : off
Muskegon, MI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
6 of 7
Carrying :
600 t. salt, apples
Detail : Trying to ride out a gale at
anchor, she waterlogged and foundered.
She had earlier attempted to come int o Muskegon harbor, but could not
negotiate the entrance. Locals watched from shore as her lights went out, then
the wreckage started coming in. Owned by F. H. Head, Chicago or by her master.
Master: Capt. Duncan Corbett(d). The survivor claimed that the rest of the crew
got so drunk while the ship was struggling that they were unable to save either
themselves or the ship.
major repairs in
1881 & 82
Sources :
hgl,mv,sol,is,wb,polk,mpl,wmn,nsp
————————————————————————±
WAURECAN
Other names :
none
Official no. :
62107
Type at loss :
schooner-barge, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1857, S. Hingston, Buffalo
Specs :
135x30x10, 371gt 294nt
Date of loss :
1875, Nov 29
Place of loss : Port Austin, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : Downbound from Saginaw, she
broke tow from the struggling steamer TRADER and foundered on Port Austin Reef.
The crew endured 12 hours in icy gale before being rescued by the tug HOME.
Many of crewmen had feet or ears amputated due to frostbite. Out of Detroit.
Master: Capt. A. McKenzie.
Sources :
mv,hgl,nsp,slh,es
————————————————————————±
WAUSEDA II
Other names : none
Official no. : C158472
Type at loss :
gas propeller tug, steel (fish)
Build info :
1924, Midland, Ont
Specs :
55x11x6, 17 t.
Date of loss :
1948, Oct 21
Place of loss :
Fitzwilliam Isl., near mouth of Georgian Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
none
Detail : Burned to a total loss at her
dock.
Out of Owen Sound
Sources :
win,slh,h,bb
————————————————————————±
WAUWONA
Other names :
also seen as WAWONA
Official no. : C126055
Type at loss :
(propeller tug, fish)
Build info :
1908, Owen Sound, Ont
Specs :
60x13x5, 31 t..
Date of loss :
1917, Jun 20
Place of loss :
Wall Isl., S of Manitoulin
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
none
Detail : Burned to a total loss.
Out of Owen Sound
Sources :
win,h ,bb not in mmgl
————————————————————————±
WAVE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1833, Swan Creek, Mich
Specs :
54x18x6, 44 t.
Date of loss :
1844, Mar 17
Place of loss : 10
mi SSW of mouth of Kalamazoo R. [now
Saugatuck]
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
5 given in best report, but other sources give as high as 13
Carrying :
light
Detail :
Bound for the Grand River with lumber when she was driven ashore by a
gale, a total loss. The famous schooner FUR TRADER later brought her outfit to
Chicago.
Out of Milwaukee.
Sources :
nsp,wl,hgl,bb,jm
————————————————————————±
WAVE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood
Build info :
1850, Charles Jennisin, Algonac, MI
Specs :
137x22x8, 208 t.
Date of loss :
1851, Nov 7
Place of loss :
near mouth of Grand R., Ont
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
(storm)
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
merchandise
Detail : She stranded and was wrecked
after breaking her shaft.
Final enrollment
annotated “wrecked in 1851 on Lake Erie.”
Sources :
lhl,hgl,wl,eas,rnc,wmn
————————————————————————±
WAVE
Other names : ?
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
(1854, Fairport, OH)
Specs :
(57x15x2, 16 t. om)
Date of loss :
1858, Oct 7
Place of loss : off
Inverhuron, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life :
2
Carrying :
wheat and flour
Detail : Lost with the death of the
captain and one hand. Owned and sailed by Capt. Thos.Warwick(d), an Orkney
Islander.
Sources :
hgl,slh,rnc,wmn(bb,wl)
not in mmgl
————————————————————————±
WAVE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
26645
Type at loss :
sidewheeler, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1864, Cornwall & Lester, Newport [Marine City], MI
Specs :
117x20x8, 153g 123n
Date of loss :
1874, Aug 27
Place of loss : off
Charity Isls, Saginaw Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
fire
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
logs
Detail : She caught fire while rafting
logs from smallboat at Big Charity Island. The 2 crewmen aboard abandoned on a
plank and were still under her bows when her exploding boiler blew her to
pieces. Master: Capt. Donahue.
Sources :
eas,mv,hgl,slh,lhl,,phr
————————————————————————
WAVE CREST - See also LAURA A.
LEE
————————————————————————±
WAVE CREST
Other names :
none
Official no. : C83414
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1867, D. Anderson, Brockville, Ont.
Specs :
110x24x10, 182 t.
Date of loss :
1900, Nov 15
Place of loss : off
Oak Orchard Point, near Pt. Breeze, NY
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life : none
reported
Carrying :
coal
Detail : She was reportedly overloaded
and foundered. Canadian records say: “Vessel was lost owning to the Captain
going to sleep, but no particulars are reported.” Bound Charlotte, NY for Toronto; out of Port
Hope.
Blown ashore at
Alexandria Bay, NY, St. Lawrence R, in
July of the same year. She was so far up on
the beach that her bowsprit snapped off against a tree.
Ashore and
reported gone to pieces in mid-December, 1899, near the same spot.
Sources :
mmgl,csqw,hgl,ns1,h,win,mpl,wmn,jmk
————————————————————————±
WAVERLY
Other names :
none
Official no. :
80432
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info :
1874, Union Dry Dock Co., Buffalo as a package freighter
Specs :
191x34x13, 1104gt 990nt
Date of loss :
1903, Jul 22
Place of loss : 5
mi SE of Harbor Beach, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
coal
Detail : Upbound with the barge W.S.
CROSTHWAITE in tow and bound for Milwaukee, she was struck and sunk by the
steel turret steamer TURRET COURT when that vessel’s steering gear broke while
she was overtaking WAVERLY. CROSTHWAITE picked up her crew. Part of Gilchrist
fleet. (TURRET CROWN also reported as
the other vessel.)
Stranded with
heavy damage on South Manitou in 1887.
Sources :
mv,ns1,polk,nsp,slh,sagl,smi,nb,gsg,mpl
————————————————————————±
WAVERTREE
Other names :
built as R.H. HARMON, renamed in 1865; also seen as WAVETREE
Official no. :
26233
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1855, Quayle & Martin, Cleveland
Specs :
128x26x11, 343 t.
Date of loss :
1867, (Nov)
Place of loss : off
Black River, S of Thunder Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : unreported
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
?
Detail : "lost", no detail.
In May, 1868, she
was sold off the beach, where she had been lying since the previous fall. She
was stripped an given up as lost in June, 1868.
Out of Cleveland
Sailed to Europe
in 1858.
Sources :
hgl,mv,slh,wl,rsl
————————————————————————±
WAWANOSH
Other names :
also seen as WAWAHNOSH
Official no. :
C ?
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info :
1873, W. Steed or R. Stedman, Sarnia, Ont.
Specs :
138x26x12, 370 t.
Date of loss :
1906, Dec 6
Place of loss : 3
mi N of Oscoda, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : She broke her towline and drove
into the shallows near Oscoda. There she pounded to pieces. She had been in tow of the steamer
LAKE MICHIGAN. Crew rescued by the tug SPENCER.
Also ashore near
Northport, MI, with her cargo of barley in the fall of 1889.
Rebuilt in 1884
Sources :
polk,ns1,clu,nsp,bb not
in mmgl
————————————————————————±
WAWINET
Other names :
also seen as WAWANET
Official no. : C116762
Type at loss :
propeller yacht, steel
Build info :
1904, Polson Iron Wks, Toronto as a tug
Specs :
87x13, 68gc 46nt [reportedly had a shallow draft]
Date of loss :
1942, Sep 21
Place of loss : 3/4
mi S Beausoliel Isl., near Penetang, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : navigational error?
Loss of life :
25 of 42
Carrying :
fishermen
Detail : The yacht was on a fishing and
party trip when she struck a bar off Beausoliel Island and sank in a few
moments. One report says she was doing a high-speed maneuver when she hit. The
drowned were all employees of a single factory, out celebrating the successful
completion of a defense contract. Owner: Bert Corbeau, Midland, Ont., who was
at the helm.
Powered by two
Rolls-Royce engines.
Sources :
mmgl,win,nsp,slh,h,lhdc,dh,dr
————————————————————————±
WAYNE
Other names : ?
Official no. :
26359
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1848, H. Doville, Sodus, NY
Specs :
56 t.
Date of loss :
1875
Place of loss : Au
Sable Point [near Au Sable Mich.)
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : Stranded and wrecked while
bound for Chicago.
Sources :
mv,hgl,slh,rsl,wmn
————————————————————————±
WAYNE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
80518
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 3-mast, bulk freight
Build info :
1875, A.A. Turner, Trenton, MI
(1875, G. Goble, Oswego also given)
Specs :
142x26x12, 322 t.
Date of loss :
1877, Dec 6
Place of loss : at
Oswego, NY
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
wheat
Detail : Entering harbor in a gale, she
luffed to and lost steerageway. She was driven against the E pier of the
breakwater and destroyed. The tug MOREY tried to save her, but got a cable in
her propeller and was also disabled.
Owned by M.J.
Cummings of Oswego
Sources :
is,h,osdo,usls,mpl
————————————————————————±
WAYNE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
80881
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood
Build info :
1882, S Langell, St Clair, MI
Specs :
187x34x14, 965g 917n
Date of loss :
1906, Oct 9
Place of loss : 14
mi SW of Portage Canal, Keweenaw
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
Detail :
Tow of steamer L. L. BARTH in company with the schr-barge S. H. FOSTER,
she stranded and was considered a total loss. Her document was surrendered, but
she was recovered and rebuilt. Sold Canadian in 1915 and abandoned in 1926.
————————————————————————±
ANTHONY WAYNE
Other names :
also seen as GENERAL WAYNE
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info :
1837, Samuel Hubbell, Perrysburgh, OH
Specs :
155x26x10, 400 t.
Date of loss :
1850, Apr 28
Place of loss : 8
mi N of
Vermilion, OH
Lake : Erie
Type of loss :
explosion
Loss of life :
22, 39 or 69 [her clerk said there were 80 to 100 persons aboard and no
more than 30 survived]
Carrying :
passengers, 300 bbl of wine and liquor, cattle and/or horses (some
sources say she had gold & silver specie aboard as well)
Detail : While she was underway, her two
starboard boilers exploded and the vessel caught fire. She sank in 15 minutes.
Fire was probably fed by her cargo. Many attested to her seaworthiness and the
safety of her machinery, and the cause of the explosion remains a mystery. She
was a total loss of $29,000. Remains broken up in 1851. Owned by Chas. Howard
and Capt. Eugene Gore of Detroit.
Extensively rebult
in 1848-9, received new boilers and was and re-engined with the engine from the
steamer COLUMBUS (qv). One widely reported innovation in her passenger
accomodation was the provision of mattresses for her steerage passengers.
Rebuilt at Detroit
in 1849 by D.W. Donahue
Sources :
eas,rkr,hgl,lhl,ttgl,sol,le,is,h,ledc,nsp,wl,bc,ew
————————————————————————±
J.C. WEATHERLY - former entry deleted (1894) - vessel was raised and rebuilt
as JOHN H. FARLEY
————————————————————————±
NETTA WEAVER
Other names :
also seen as NETTIE and NETT
WEAVER
Official no. :
18089
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1865, Rogers, Toledo or Milan, OH
Specs :
310 t.
Date of loss : 1877,
Oct 4
Place of loss : 50
mi W of Kincardine, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
2 of 8
Carrying :
iron ore
Detail : Bound Lake Superior for
Cleveland, she wrecked in a storm, a total loss. Survivors pulled through the
gale in an open yawl to Kincardine in 18 hours. A crewman and a passenger were
drowned. She was on her first trip after a season-long layup. Out of Cleveland.
Master: Capt. W. H. Reynolds.
Sources :
mv,hgl,slh,h,nsp,win,usls,es,wl
————————————————————————±
B.L. WEBB
Other names :
hull later used for propeller MARQUETTE
Official no. :
none
Type at loss :
propeller, wood, package and bulk freight
Build info :
1856, J.A. Jenkins*, Detroit
Specs :
183x36x16, 856 t.
Date of loss :
1856, Nov 13
Place of loss :
Waiska Bay, just W of Soo
Lake : Superior
Type of loss :
storm
Loss of life :
1
Carrying :
supplies for Marquette
Detail : She stranded and later burned. She
was only 47 days old at the time and was a $50,000 loss. One man froze to death in the accident. The
gutted hull was recovered the next year and rebuilt as above.
*at the shipyard
of G. B. Russell
Sources :
hgl,lssc,gwgl,is,lhl,lss,mpl,wl,nsp,air,blu(56)
————————————————————————±
H.J. WEBB
Other names :
none
Official no. :
11985
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info :
1869, Nichols, Vermilion, OH
Specs : 167x28x11, 432g 410n
Date of loss :
1901, Nov 10
Place of loss :
Darch Island, North Channel near Gore Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss :
storm/fire
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
lumber
Detail : Tow of the prop PORTER
CHAMBERLAIN, she broke loose in a gale and went hard aground. Burned to a total
loss the 13th along with the CHAMBERLAIN. Manager: W. D. Smith.
Major repairs in
1878 and 84.
Sources :
mv,phr,polk,nsp,ns1,do2
————————————————————————±
JOHN WEBBER
Other names :
also seen as JOHN WEBER
Official no. :
12970
Type at loss :
schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info :
1856, C. Hinman, Black River, Oh
Specs : 93x24x10, 153 t.
Date of loss :
1875, Oct 5
Place of loss :
near Escanaba, Mich
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss :
hull failure
Loss of life :
none mentioned
Carrying :
iron ore
Detail :
Left the harbor at Escanaba and soon began to leak. When it became
apparent that she was going to sink, her skipper put her on the beach.
Unfortunately there was a deep drop-off at the point and though her bow was on
a bar, her stern was in 40 feet of water. The vessel broke in two and was
reported abandoned on the 13th after a general storm swept the area.
Owned by Wex,
Buffalo.
Rebuilt, 1870 and
heavy repairs after going ashore on Lake Erie in spring of the same year.
Sources :
nsp,wl,rsl,mv,hgl,bb,wgts
————————————————————————
DANIEL WEBSTER - See LUCY AUCHARD.
WEBSTER may have been wrecked in 1859 or 60.
————————————————————————
EMILY P. WEED - See SEVONA
————————————————————————±
JOHN WEEDEN
Other names :
also seen as WEDEN, WEEDIN
Official no. :
12792
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1857, J.F. Squires, Huron, OH
Specs :
269 t.
Date of loss :
1869, Oct 27
Place of loss : off
Devil’s Nose, near Pultneyville, NY
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss :
collision
Loss of life :
none
Carrying :
corn
Detail :
Having left Chicago for Ogdensburg, NY early in the month , she had
suffered a collision with the bark FAVORITE off Sheboygan, WI, while the
vessels were on cross-tacks on October 15. After $600 repairs, the vessel had
proceeded to Lake Ontario and collided with the Canadian schooner ORION in a
blizzard, just out of Niagara. The crew jumped aboard the ORION just before the
two vessels parted, but the captain and mate returned for the ship’s papers
before abandoning. The wreck of the WEEDEN blew ashore at Fairbanks’ Point, 2
miles E of Pultneyville, and was broken up by Nov. 2. Out of Detroit.
Major repairs in
1863, 66.
Sources :
nsp,rp,mv,hgl,bb,rsl,mdwl,wmn
————————————————————————±
WEEGEE
Other names :
none
Official no. :
80119
Type at loss :
schooner, wood
Build info :
1865, Cleveland
Specs :
57x13x4, 22g
Date of loss :
1877
Place of loss :
unreported
Lake : unreported
Type of loss :
(storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying :
?
Detail : No detail. Document surrendered
at Port Huron 6/30/1879, annotated "wrecked in 1877." Out of Wenona
[Bay City], Mich.
Rebuilt at
Detroit, 1870, out of Trenton in 1872
Sources :
phr,mv,bb
————————————————————————±
CHARLES H. WEEKS