130-Year-Old Margaret A. Muir Shipwreck Unearthed in Lake Michigan, Featuring Captain’s Devoted Dog

130-Year-Old Shipwreck Found in Lake Michigan with Captain’s ‘Intelligent and Faithful’ Dog Onboard

The Long-Lost Margaret A. Muir

More than 130 years after sinking in the stormy waters of Lake Michigan, researchers have located the Margaret A. Muir, a 130-foot schooner. On the fateful morning of September 30, 1893, the ship was navigating Lake Michigan when a storm ensued. Before it could reach the safety of the nearest port, it sank along with the captain’s much-loved dog.

A Journey in Time and Underwater

Maritime historians associated with the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association employed historical records and a homemade side-scan sonar device to locate the long-lost ship this year. This endeavor was initiated nearly two decades ago by maritime historian Brendon Baillod, who compiled a database of Wisconsin’s lost shipwrecks.

After pinpointing a 5-square-mile grid as the probable search area, researchers set sail on May 12. When they were near to wrapping up for the day, an unusual formation on the lake floor caught their attention. Just under 50 feet below the water’s surface and mere miles away from Algoma’s harbor, Wisconsin, they discovered the Margaret A. Muir.

Memorializing the Wreck

Upon discovery, the state’s maritime archaeologist, Tamara Thomsen, organised an expedition to capture high-resolution photographs of the wreck. These images were used to develop a 3D model of the ship, revealing a vessel in a bad state with a collapsed deck and unattached sides. Yet, certain deck gear components are still remarkably intact.

The association now intends to collaborate with the Wisconsin Historical Society to nominate the shipwreck for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Notably, another ship discovered last summer, the Trinidad, enjoys this status. The preservation of such maritime artifacts is crucial as they serve as “pages of a history book”, according to Kevin Cullen, director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

The Tale of the Margaret A. Muir

The Margaret A. Muir was constructed in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1872. During its 21-year service, it transported various goods across all five Great Lakes. The ship had managed to navigate through the Straits of Mackinac, the waterway linking Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and was packed with 4,375 barrels of salt when it encountered the disastrous storm. Following an unsuccessful attempt to reach the nearest port, Captain David Clow discovered the ship’s hold brimming with water. His orders to abandon ship came too late and the ship tragically sunk.

Man’s Best Friend at Sea

Sailing alongside Captain Clow was his unnamed, “intelligent and faithful” dog, as the Door County Advocate described the pet following the catastrophe. The loss of his beloved pet shook the captain deeply who mourned the dog’s demise stating he’d rather lose a significant sum of money than have his pet perish.

Despite scouring the research extensively, Baillod found no further information regarding the Captain’s pet, making it the second known instance of a shipwreck discovery in Lake Michigan where a dog didn’t survive. The previous case involved the Trinidad, which also had a ship’s mascot — a large Newfoundland asleep by the stove, who unfortunately didn’t have time to escape when the ship began to sink.