Samuel Mather
Photographed wooden freighter, 1887–1891
An interpretive 3D reconstruction of the vessel afloat, in the form named above and from before its loss in Whitefish Bay. It is informed by the historical record set out under History below, where the documented evidence and the interpretation are kept apart; rigging, colours and fittings are partly inferred. It is not a survey of the wreck.
Nobody knows the exact spot where this ship went down, so the marker shows the general area.
Starboard bow · complete vessel · drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, right-drag to pan. Hiding a part shows what sat beneath it; it does not recreate the wreck.
What the model represents
From the model specification. Two lists, kept apart on purpose.
Documented
- The wreck inventory identifies the 1887 wooden propeller freighter, 246×40 ft, lost in 1891. Modern wreck survey: Samuel Mather
Inferred
- Underwater hull lines and draft
- Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Configuration caveat. The crowded historic photograph guides the stern gallery and twin aft funnels; nearby schooner masts belong to other ships. Two masts are selected from historical accounts. Hold depth is reported as 14 ft or about 19 ft; this model selects 19.3 ft. Hidden bow details and hatch arrangement are inferred.
Two numbers that are not the same thing. The waterline toggle sits at 4.60 m above the keel, a display assumption, not a measured draft. The wreck lies in about 140 ft of water; that describes the site, not the ship.
Renders from the model
History, evidence and limits
The research notes behind the reconstruction, reproduced with their citations.
Version 1.1. Metadata and presentation revised September 8, 2026; original evidence review retained.
Selected appearance
Photographed wooden freighter, 1887–1891. The crowded historic photograph guides the stern gallery and twin aft funnels; nearby schooner masts belong to other ships. Two masts are selected from historical accounts. Hold depth is reported as 14 ft or about 19 ft; this model selects 19.3 ft. Hidden bow details and hatch arrangement are inferred.
Documented evidence
The wreck inventory identifies the 1887 wooden propeller freighter, 246×40 ft, lost in 1891. Modern wreck survey: Samuel Mather
Reasonable interpretation
Underwater hull lines and draft
Exact colors, fittings, hatch layout and rigging routes
Photographed wooden freighter, 1887–1891. The crowded historic photograph guides the stern gallery and twin aft funnels; nearby schooner masts belong to other ships. Two masts are selected from historical accounts. Hold depth is reported as 14 ft or about 19 ft; this model selects 19.3 ft. Hidden bow details and hatch arrangement are inferred.
Historical records describe the wooden propeller freighter built in 1887 by Quayle at Cleveland, US 116142, 246 ft long and 40 ft wide, lost in 1891. The inspected named stern photograph supports the covered stern gallery and two aft funnels abreast. Historical accounts describe two masts; several other masts in this crowded harbor photograph belong to neighboring vessels.
These evidence-informed exterior models are newly authored approximations. No complete original lines plan has been recovered for this work. Colors, finish, minor rigging and fittings are period interpretations. Dimensions do not establish a precise loaded draft. The viewer places these qualifications beside the model.
Lake, shoreline, sky and weather are artistic staging. The AI illustration is not a historical photograph, not evidence of loss-day conditions and not an exact rendering of the GLB. Use direct model renders to inspect geometry.
Unresolved uncertainties
No complete original lines plan is claimed. Exact loaded draft, concealed surfaces and fine fittings remain interpreted. The earlier research context below retains the source distinctions used for this reconstruction.
The forward superstructure is partly obscured in the photograph. Its detailed shape, hatch count and fittings use a period bulk-freighter interpretation. Sources conflict on hold depth: the wreck survey gives 14 ft, while historical compilations give about 19 or 19.3 ft. The model selects 19.3 ft as its dimensional reference, without resolving the disagreement. One standing mast in the wreck description is not treated as the original mast count. Draft, colors and submerged hull lines are inferred. No third-party archaeological mesh was downloaded or traced.
Sources
- Historical photograph: Samuel Mather (1887)
- Historical loss compilation, M entries
- Modern wreck survey: Samuel Mather
- Samuel Mather historical summary and bibliography
Illustration conditions
Lake, shoreline, lighting and weather are artistic staging, not evidence of a specific historical voyage. AI artwork is supplemental; the GLB and direct renders establish the delivered geometry.
Sources used for the model
Rights and respect
Removing or disturbing wreckage on Great Lakes bottomlands is a felony under Michigan Part 761, 1994 PA 451, at a fair market value of $100 or more. Positions are historical reference only — not navigation and not dive-planning data. Wreck records are published by the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council.
Treat these as graves. Lives were lost on many Great Lakes wrecks and human remains may still be present. Look, photograph, and leave everything exactly as you found it.
Model and renders were newly made for this project (2026). Three.js r160.1 is used under the MIT licence; its notice ships with the vendored files. Wreck position, depth and dates: Michigan Underwater Preserve Council. The model specification (version 1.1, revised 2026-09-08) is published beside the assets (model-spec.json).