William
Young
Sunk 1891
The
latest wreck to be discovered in the Straits of Mackinac is the schooner
William Young. The Young was accidentally found by Michigan State Police
search and rescue divers during a missing person search on the east side
of the Mackinac Bridge in August of 2002. After a buoy was placed on the
wreck just before the Labor Day weekend, the Young has become a hot destination
for many divers in fall of 2002.
The
wreck was identified by the registration number, #26230, on the forward
deck beam inside the main hatch. Records show the William Young was built
in 1863 in Ohio, and sank after a collision in the Straits on October
5, 1891. The small 140-foot schooner was cut down into a tow barge in
the 1880’s. “Cutting down” was the process of removing
the entire upper rigging and topsails, along with the bow sprit and large
forward sail inventory. The law required the lower sails to be retained
on the shortened masts for use in an emergency, such as the towline from
the steamer parting in heavy weather. The chance of a schooner barge ever
needing to sail was remote, so sailing equipment tended to be extremely
minimal and often of dubious quality. The William Young appears to be
more of a barge than a sailer.
The wreck is upright and intact in 120 feet of water, in the shipping lane, about a mile east of the bridge. Divers have experienced current on the surface and bottom. Evidently all lower cabins were removed to provide more cargo capacity, probably during conversion to a tow barge. The aft two thirds of the hull is filled with coal to within a couple of feet below the main deck. Forward the bow is split open with coal, anchors and anchor chain spilled into the sand. It is possible to swim through the open bow area and aft to the forward hatch. As stated above, the rest of the wreck is filled with coal. A mast lies along the starboard side, on the bottom. Some deadeyes can be found along the rail. The wheel is still in place next to the rudderpost on the rear deck.
Story and photos ©2005 J.R. Underhill Communications
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