Identification & Site Information

• Name: Alert
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 105101
• Date Built and Launched: 1871
• Builder: A. Turner, Trenton, Michigan
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge, Bulk Freighter (originally built as a three-masted schooner, later converted to a two-masted schooner-barge)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Measurements: Length: 143 ft (43.6 m) Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Tonnage: 360 gross tons, 342 net tons
• Date Lost: September 16, 1904
• Place of Loss: Near South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None (crew escaped in lifeboat)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Stone

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Vessel Type Wooden Schooner-Barge, originally a three-masted Schooner later converted to a two-masted Barge for bulk freight transport, commonly towed by steamers for efficiency in the growing Great Lakes shipping industry.

Description: The Alert was a wooden schooner-barge built in 1871 by A. Turner in Trenton, Michigan. Initially constructed as a three-masted schooner, she was later converted into a two-masted schooner-barge to accommodate the evolving needs of bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes. Measuring 143 feet (43.6 m) in length with a beam of 28 feet (8.5 m) and a depth of 11 feet (3.4 m), the Alert had a cargo capacity well-suited for hauling bulk materials such as stone.

In 1883, the Alert suffered a significant setback when she was damaged in a fire at Milwaukee. The following year, in 1884, she underwent a comprehensive Rebuild, which included her Conversion to a Schooner-Barge—a common transition for older sailing vessels as steam power became dominant on the lakes.

History: Throughout her operational life, the Alert was employed primarily in the bulk freight trade, carrying materials like stone and timber across Lake Michigan and surrounding waterways. Owned by Leatham & Smith of Sturgeon Bay, she was often towed by steamers to increase efficiency in moving large, heavy cargoes.

Her final voyage took place in September 1904 when she was under tow by the Steamer Duncan City. While near South Manitou Island on Lake Michigan, the vessels encountered a severe gale. The Alert broke loose from the tow line, became swamped by heavy seas, and eventually sank. It is believed that her crew successfully escaped using the Schooner’s lifeboat, as no casualties were reported.

Final Disposition: The Alert sank near South Manitou Island after breaking loose from tow during a storm. The wreck was not salvaged and remains submerged.

Located By & Date Found: No confirmed modern discovery or documentation of the wreck site has been reported, though the South Manitou Island area is a known site for multiple shipwrecks and may contain remnants of the Alert.

NOTMARs & Advisories No specific navigational hazards related to the Alert are noted, but South Manitou Island is a well-known shipwreck zone, and mariners are generally advised to navigate the area with caution due to historical wrecks.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy

Conclusion

The Alert exemplifies the evolution of Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th century, transitioning from sail-powered schooners to towed Schooner-barges. After surviving a destructive fire in 1883 and undergoing a major Rebuild, she continued serving the bulk freight industry until her loss in 1904 near South Manitou Island. While her exact wreck site remains unconfirmed, the Alert‘s story is part of the broader narrative of maritime adaptation and resilience on the Great Lakes.

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Keywords: Schooner-Barge, Lake Michigan, South Manitou Island, Bulk Freight, Storm Wreck, Towed Vessel
Categories: Great Lakes Schooners, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, Maritime Conversion Vessels
Glossary Terms: Schooner-Barge, Grand Haven Rig, Bulk Freight, Tow Operations, Lifeboat Escape