- Date
- 1887-10-29
- Kind
- Shipwreck
- Where
- Beaver Island
- Eras
- Industrial era
- Concepts
- deathtransportationheritagefamilycommunication
- Within
- Beaver Island
Summary
The August 1996 Beaver Beacon recounts the sinking of the Vernon on October 29, 1887. The steamer had stopped at Beaver Island’s St. James Harbor; seven passengers boarded there, including four young Gallagher women and Charles Gallagher, who was traveling to Chicago for supplies. The article describes the storm, disputed opportunities for rescue by the Superior and Escanaba, recovery of nineteen bodies, and the continuing loss of many other victims.
Evidence limits
This record follows the 1996 newspaper’s historical account. It is not an independent vessel register, passenger manifest, or coroner’s record.
Sources
- Arthur P. Gallagher recounts the 29 October 1887 sinking of the 160-foot steamer *Vernon*, which had departed Beaver Island with seven passengers including four young Gallagher women and Charles Gallagher; the article records rescue controversy, recovered bodies, and the unresolved fate of other victims. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1996-08_Beaver-Beacon
- The held issue scan confirms the historical shipwreck account and passenger details.data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1996-08_Beaver-Beacon
Added 5 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “The 1887 *Vernon* shipwreck claimed Beaver Island passengers in Lake Michigan”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/events/beaver-island-vernon-shipwreck-beaver-island-passengers-1887/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, August 1996, “The Tragedy of the Vernon.” (and 1 further source listed on the page).
Last revised 2026-08-05. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.
BibTeX for “The 1887 *Vernon* shipwreck claimed Beaver Island passengers in Lake Michigan”RIS for “The 1887 *Vernon* shipwreck claimed Beaver Island passengers in Lake Michigan”