Shipwreck of 1892 Finally Discovered in Lake Superior
In a remarkable development, explorers have located the wreck of the Western Reserve, a 300-foot steamer that sank in Lake Superior in 1892. Using advanced sonar technology, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society confirmed the wreck’s position, approximately 60 miles northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. The discovery sheds light on a tragic maritime disaster that claimed the lives of many, including the family of the ship’s wealthy owner.
Tragic Events of a Fateful Night
On a late summer evening in 1892, the Western Reserve was caught in a fierce squall while carrying 27 passengers, including its owner, Cleveland shipping magnate Peter G. Minch, and his family. As the storm intensified around 9 p.m., the ship’s modern steel hull succumbed to the relentless waves, tearing in half within minutes. The crew and passengers scrambled to escape, but the ship sank in just ten minutes, leaving only two lifeboats for survival.
In a harrowing ordeal, 19 survivors clung to the last remaining lifeboat, which began to fill with water as they drifted through the night. The cries of children and the desperate pleas of adults echoed in the darkness, as reported by the Watertown Republican newspaper. Harry Stewart, the wheelman and sole survivor, managed to swim for two hours to reach the shore, recounting the terrifying moments as the ship broke apart.
Fast forward nearly 133 years, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society utilized sonar technology to pinpoint the wreck’s location. Explorers confirmed the ship lies in two distinct pieces at a depth of 600 feet, aligning with Stewart’s account of the disaster. “It was broken almost straight in half,” said Corey Adkins, a spokesman for the society. “The bow fell right on top of the stern, which is kind of abnormal for shipwrecks.”
Historical Significance and Future Exploration
The Western Reserve was a significant vessel in its time, recognized as the largest bulk carrier on the Great Lakes when it launched in 1890. It was also the first ship constructed of steel in the classic Great Lakes design, featuring superstructures at both the bow and stern. The ship’s steel was produced using the Bessemer process, which, while efficient, had not yet revealed its susceptibility to brittleness in colder temperatures.
Experts speculate that the ship may have succumbed to a phenomenon known as “hogging,” where a ship’s bow and stern are lifted by a wave, causing it to snap in the middle. The Wisconsin Marine Historical Society suggests that insufficient ballast may have contributed to the disaster, although definitive evidence remains elusive. Adkins emphasized the need for further investigation to determine the exact cause of the wreck.
As spring approaches and ice clears from Lake Superior, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society plans to return to the wreck site for additional exploration. This discovery not only brings closure to a long-lost maritime tragedy but also highlights the rich history of shipwrecks in Lake Superior, which has seen between 500 to 600 incidents since the 1850s.
