William Young
Schooner Barge · Lost 1891 · The Straits of Mackinac
One of three coal barges behind the steamer Nashua, the William Young settled slowly and sank in the Straits in 1891.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
Bailey Shipbuilding built William Young as a two-masted schooner at Madison Dock, Ohio, in 1863; she was re-rigged with three masts in 1889 and later cut down to a tow barge. In October 1891 she was one of three coal-laden barges towed by the steamer Nashua from Buffalo to Racine. Leaking under stress of weather, she settled in the Straits of Mackinac on October 5. Her crew salvaged sails and rigging and was rescued before she sank.
Vessel
- 1863
- Bailey Shipbuilding
- Madison Dock, Ohio
- Wood
- 139 ft
- 26 ft
- Not established
- Unpowered (towed); originally sail
- Not established
Loss
- October 5, 1891
- Storm
- Straits of Mackinac, Michigan
- Lake Huron
- Buffalo, New York → Racine, Wisconsin
- Coal
- Not established
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 125 ft
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Within the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve (Michigan)
Position
- 45.81° N 84.70° 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: William Young
Specification block, history and present-condition text read; underlying newspapers and registries not independently inspected.
