Shipwreck Report: S.A. Wood (1868–1906)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: S.A. Wood
• Official Number: 23765
• Vessel Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner
• Built: 1868, by H.B. Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Final Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan)
• Date Lost: November 13, 1904 (damaged beyond repair)
• Final Fate: Destroyed by fire in Chicago, November 1, 1906
• Cause: Dismasted in storm, later converted to a Barge, then burned
• Final Cargo: Unknown
• Loss of Life: 1 (Captain killed by falling spar during storm)
• Specifications
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Length: 150 feet (45.7 meters) Beam: 28 feet (8.5 meters) Depth: 9 feet (2.7 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 314 gross tons
• Net Tonnage 299 net tons

Operational History

The S.A. Wood was built in 1868 at the H.B. Burger Shipyard in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a well-known builder of Great Lakes sailing vessels.  Designed as a three-masted wooden Schooner, it was built for bulk cargo transport and operated on the Great Lakes for over three decades.

Like many large schooners of the time, the S.A. Wood likely carried cargoes such as lumber, grain, coal, or iron orebetween ports on Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie.  It would have been typical of the working Schooner fleets that dominated Great Lakes shipping before steam-powered vessels took over in the late 19th century.

Final Voyage & Loss (November 13, 1904)

Caught in a Powerful Storm on Lake Michigan  On November 13, 1904, the S.A. Wood was dismasted in a violent storm while sailing toward Milwaukee.  The falling mast spars crushed the vessel’s captain, killing him instantly.  Despite its severe damage, the Schooner struggled into Milwaukee Harbor, but it was deemed too heavily damaged to be worth repairing.

Converted to a Barge in 1905 After being declared a Total Loss as a Schooner, the hulk of the S.A. Wood was towed to Chicago in 1905 for Conversion into a Barge.  This was a common fate for aging sailing vessels, as their hulls were still useful for hauling bulk cargo under tow by steamships.

Destroyed by Fire (November 1, 1906) Before completing its Barge Conversion, the S.A. Wood was set on fire by an arsonist in Chicago on November 1, 1906. The hulk was completely destroyed, bringing an end to the vessel’s nearly 40-year career.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (initial loss), then towed to Chicago
• Depth: Unknown (likely burned in shallow waters near the Chicago waterfront)
• Current Condition:
  • The remains of the S.A. Wood were likely salvaged or removed following the fire.
  • Given its wooden Hull construction and complete destruction by fire, no significant remains are expected to exist today. 
  • It is possible that small fragments of the vessel’s iron fastenings or burnt timbers may still be buried beneath sediment in the Chicago River or harbor.
•  Exploration & Archaeological Interest: The S.A. Wood is not known to have been surveyed by shipwreck researchers.
• •Given its fate as a burned-out hulk, the wreck would likely be of little archaeological significance.

Legacy and Significance

A Typical Great Lakes Schooner’s Fate The S.A. Wood was one of many three-masted wooden schooners that operated on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Like many of its contemporaries, it was eventually rendered obsolete by the rise of steam-powered vessels. Its Conversion to a Barge in its final years was a common transition for aging wooden ships.

The Risks of Sailing on the Great Lakes The storm that dismasted the S.A. Wood highlights the dangers faced by schooners operating in unpredictable Great Lakes weather. The captain’s tragic death due to the falling spar is a reminder of the perils of sailing during this era.

3Fire: A Common Cause of Shipwrecks The S.A. Wood’s ultimate destruction by arson in Chicago reflects how many decommissioned ships met their end through fire, whether accidental or intentional. Wooden-hulled vessels were highly flammable, making fire a frequent cause of ship losses in harbors and Shipyards.

Further Research and Resources

• Wisconsin Shipwreck Database https://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org A searchable archive of shipwrecks in Wisconsin waters, including Lake Michigan.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical records on Great Lakes schooners and shipwrecks.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com Preserves artifacts and research on Great Lakes maritime history.
• Illinois Shipwreck Research https://www.saveillinoisshipwrecks.org Focuses on shipwreck sites in Illinois, including those lost near Chicago.

Conclusion

The S.A. Wood was a three-masted wooden Schooner built in 1868 that operated for nearly four decades on the Great Lakes.

After being dismasted in a storm near Milwaukee in 1904, it was declared a Total Loss and converted into a Barge.

Before the Conversion was completed, the hulk was destroyed by arson in Chicago in 1906, marking the end of the vessel’s long career.

Today, no known remains exist, but the story of the S.A. Wood is a reminder of the dangers of Great Lakes sailing and the transition from sail to steam in the early 20th century.