W.M. Schlosser of Milwaukee

Background

W.M. Schlosser, a maritime operator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, acquired the City of Sheboygan in 1915. Schlosser was likely involved in regional shipping, using vessels like the schooner to meet the demand for bulk cargo transport across the Great Lakes.

Final Ownership and Tragic End

Under Schlosser’s ownership, the City of Sheboygan embarked on its fateful final voyage in September 1915, carrying a load of feldspar from Kingston to Buffalo. The schooner encountered a severe storm near Amherst Island, Lake Ontario, and ultimately sank, leading to the tragic loss of five lives. The disaster marked the end of Schlosser’s brief ownership of the vessel and highlighted the risks of relying on older schooners for commerce during an era dominated by more modern and reliable steamships.