The remains of the F.J. King shipwreck have been located off the coast of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, after nearly 140 years hidden beneath the surface of Lake Michigan. The schooner, lost in 1886 during a violent storm while transporting iron ore, had long been a source of speculation and search efforts in the region.
The breakthrough came on June 28, when a team led by maritime historian Brendon Baillod identified the ship using high-resolution side-scan sonar.
The 140-foot three-masted schooner appeared on sonar images as a fully intact wreck resting on the lakebed.
The search had been focused on a two-mile-by-two-mile grid, based on a long-overlooked 1886 newspaper account that cited a lighthouse keeper’s last sighting of the masts. Baillod said the wreck was discovered less than half a mile from the location described by the keeper, confirming the accuracy of that historic report over other accounts.
Discovery rooted in historical clues and new technology
The team had originally been testing new sonar equipment aboard a local tour boat when the discovery was made.
A remotely operated vehicle was deployed to capture visuals of the wreckage. This marked the first time anyone had seen the F.J. King since it sank just after 2 AM on Sept. 15, 1886, during a southeast gale.
Historical records show that waves reaching up to 10 feet tore through the ship’s seams, forcing Captain William Griffin to order his crew to abandon ship.
As they rowed away, the men watched the deckhouse break apart and papers scatter into the wind. They were rescued hours later by another schooner and taken to shore.
Despite the violent impact, much of the vessel remains well-preserved. Baillod reported that the front starboard side was crushed, but major features like the ship’s wheel, wooden anchors, and kitchen items remained visible inside the hull.
A working schooner from a different era
Built in 1867 in Toledo, Ohio, the F.J. King was used to haul grain and ore across the Great Lakes, which served as major transportation routes in an era before widespread rail and highway systems.
Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society, said the lakes once functioned as the region’s primary highways.
The Wisconsin Historical Society has documented the site using 3D imaging and plans to nominate it for the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Until that process is complete, the exact location of the wreck will remain confidential.
Experts say advances in sonar technology, combined with increased interest in historical preservation and the effects of shoreline erosion, have led to a surge in shipwreck discoveries across the Great Lakes.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
