Fred McBrier
Wooden Bulk Freighter · Lost 1890 · The Straits of Mackinac
Towing two ore barges through the Straits at night, the steamer Fred McBrier was sunk in an 1890 collision over confused passing signals.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
F.W. Wheeler built the wooden steamer Fred McBrier at West Bay City, Michigan, in 1881; she spent her career towing schooner-barges. On October 3, 1890, westbound in the Straits with iron ore and towing the J.B. Lozen and A. Stewart, she collided in darkness with the propeller Progress after confusion over passing signals. She sank quickly, without loss of life. Divers led by Jim Ryerse found her in 1967 about nine miles west of the Mackinac Bridge.
Vessel
- 1881
- F.W. Wheeler
- West Bay City, Michigan
- Wood
- 161 ft
- 31 ft
- Not established
- Steam, screw
- Not established
Loss
- October 3, 1890
- Collision
- Straits of Mackinac about 9 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
- Lake Michigan
- Not established
- Iron ore
- Not established
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 100 ft
- Not established
- Not established
- 1967 (group led by St. Ignace diver Jim Ryerse)
- Within the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve (Michigan)
Position
- 45.81° N 84.92° W
- Approximate position
- Mackinaw City, Michigan
Preserve-published dive-site position; displayed rounded.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (80/100)
Crew numbers are not established in the source reviewed.
Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve — Shipwrecks: Fred McBrier
Specification block, history and present-condition text read; underlying newspapers and registries not independently inspected.
