Historic F.J. King Shipwreck Found After 140 Years in Lake Michigan

F.J. King shipwreck disconnected Wisconsin’s coast. Credit: Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association (WUAA)

The remains of the F.J. King shipwreck person been located disconnected the seashore of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, aft astir 140 years hidden beneath the aboveground of Lake Michigan. The schooner, mislaid successful 1886 during a violent storm portion transporting robust ore, had agelong been a root of speculation and hunt efforts successful the region.

The breakthrough came connected June 28, erstwhile a squad led by maritime historiographer Brendon Baillod identified the vessel utilizing high-resolution side-scan sonar.

The 140-foot three-masted schooner appeared connected sonar images arsenic a afloat intact wreck resting connected the lakebed.

The hunt had been focused connected a two-mile-by-two-mile grid, based connected a long-overlooked 1886 paper relationship that cited a lighthouse keeper’s past sighting of the masts. Baillod said the wreck was discovered little than fractional a mile from the determination described by the keeper, confirming the accuracy of that historical study implicit different accounts.

Discovery rooted successful humanities clues and caller technology

The squad had primitively been investigating caller sonar instrumentality aboard a section circuit vessel erstwhile the find was made.

A remotely operated conveyance was deployed to seizure visuals of the wreckage. This marked the archetypal clip anyone had seen the F.J. King since it sank conscionable aft 2 AM connected Sept. 15, 1886, during a southeast gale.

Historical records amusement that waves reaching up to 10 feet tore done the ship’s seams, forcing Captain William Griffin to bid his unit to abandon ship.

F.J. King shipwreck. Credit: Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association (WUAA)

As they rowed away, the men watched the deckhouse interruption isolated and papers scatter into the wind. They were rescued hours aboriginal by different schooner and taken to shore.

Despite the convulsive impact, overmuch of the vas remains well-preserved. Baillod reported that the beforehand starboard broadside was crushed, but large features similar the ship’s wheel, woody anchors, and room items remained disposable wrong the hull.

A moving schooner from a antithetic era

Built successful 1867 successful Toledo, Ohio, the F.J. King was utilized to haul atom and ore crossed the Great Lakes, which served arsenic large proscription routes successful an epoch earlier wide obstruction and road systems.

Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society, said the lakes erstwhile functioned arsenic the region’s superior highways.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has documented the tract utilizing 3D imaging and plans to nominate it for the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Until that process is complete, the nonstop determination of the wreck volition stay confidential.

Experts accidental advances successful sonar technology, combined with accrued involvement successful humanities preservation and the effects of shoreline erosion, person led to a surge successful shipwreck discoveries crossed the Great Lakes.