Identification & Site Information

• Name: ANDROMEDA
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-masted
• Date Built and Launched: 1848
• Builder: Lockwood, Madison Dock, Ohio
• Measurements: 112 ft (34.1 m) length, 24 ft (7.3 m) beam, 9 ft (2.7 m) depth; 568 tons old measurement (t. om)
• Date Lost: July 18, 1858
• Place of Loss: 20 miles (32 km) from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 15 miles (24 km) offshore, and 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Manitowoc
• Lake: Lake Michigan

Vessel Type

Wooden, 2-Masted Schooner

Description

The ANDROMEDA was a medium-sized, two-masted wooden schooner, built for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes. Schooners of this type were essential to mid-19th-century commerce, transporting goods such as lumber, grain, and salt between ports along the lakes. With her substantial tonnage and length, the ANDROMEDA was well-suited for long-haul shipping routes from New York to Chicago.

History

Constructed in 1848 by Lockwood at Madison Dock, Ohio, the ANDROMEDA was part of the expanding fleet of schooners supporting the growing industrial and agricultural economies around the Great Lakes. Owned out of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, by her skipper, Captain Morgan, the vessel operated in the highly trafficked routes between Oswego, New York, and Chicago, a key link in the transport of bulk materials.

On July 18, 1858, while carrying 800 barrels of salt from Oswego to Chicago, the ANDROMEDA suddenly sprang a leak. The cause was likely Hull failure, a common risk for wooden vessels exposed to the constant stress of heavy cargo and the challenging conditions of Lake Michigan. The leak developed rapidly, and the crew was forced to abandon the Schooner as she Foundered approximately 20 miles from Sheboygan and 15 miles offshore.

The crew managed to escape in the ship’s boat, reportedly in nothing but their underwear, a testament to the suddenness of the emergency. They arrived safely in Manitowoc the following day, having endured the perilous journey across open water without significant loss of life. Despite the crew’s survival, the vessel and her cargo were lost.

Final Disposition

Foundered due to sudden Hull failure in Lake Michigan, approximately 20 miles from Sheboygan. The vessel was not recovered.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—the wreck of the ANDROMEDA has not been located or documented in modern records.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no navigational advisories or obstructions related to the wreck site off Sheboygan, Lake Michigan.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Wisconsin Historical Society
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Shipwreck Stories

Conclusion

The loss of the ANDROMEDA highlights the inherent risks of maritime trade on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Wooden schooners, while essential to commerce, were susceptible to structural failures, especially under the heavy loads and rough conditions typical of Lake Michigan. The crew’s narrow escape underscores the sudden and unpredictable dangers faced by sailors of the era. Though the ANDROMEDA was lost, her story remains part of the broader narrative of Great Lakes shipping, reflecting both the perils and resilience of the maritime communities that depended on these vital trade routes.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: ANDROMEDA shipwreck, Lake Michigan Schooner sinking, Sheboygan shipwreck, Hull failure on Great Lakes, 19th-century salt transport, Great Lakes maritime history
• Categories: Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooners, 19th Century Shipwrecks, Hull Failure Shipwrecks, Unlocated Wrecks of the Great Lakes
• Glossary Terms:
• Foundered: A maritime term indicating that a ship filled with water and sank.
• Hull Failure: A structural failure of a ship’s Hull, often leading to leaks and sinking.
• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, fore-and-aft rigged, commonly used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.