Brig Tuscarora (1847–1855)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Tuscarora
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Pre-1869 U.S. vessel documentation era)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Brig, two-masted
• Builder: Unknown, built in North East, Pennsylvania
• Year Built & Launched: 1847
• Specifications: Gross Tonnage: 254 GT
• Date Lost: October 16, 1855
• Location of Loss: Off Chicago, Illinois, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Storm, dragged anchor and Foundered
• Loss of Life: None of 11 crew members
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Hard coal

Vessel Description & Service History

The Tuscarora was a wooden Brig, a common two-masted sailing vessel used for bulk cargo transport in the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. Built in North East, Pennsylvania, in 1847, she primarily transported coal, lumber, grain, and other freight between Buffalo, Chicago, and other lake ports.

She was owned by Davis & Sutton of Buffalo, New York, and commanded by Capt. Mullins or Malden at the time of her loss.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 16, 1855, the Tuscarora was en route from Buffalo, New York, to Chicago, Illinois, loaded with hard coal.  Upon arrival near Chicago, she anchored off Harrison Street, waiting to unload. A storm intensified, and the Brig dragged anchor, drifting toward shore. A volunteer rescue crew from shore attempted to reach her but failed due to heavy waves and wind. Eventually, a group of nine experienced lake captains and four seamen used two new “Francis” metal lifeboats to rescue the Tuscarora’s crew.

• After the rescue, the Brig sank and broke apart in the waves by October 21, 1855.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after sinking.
• Pounded to pieces by waves.
• No records of salvage or recovery.
• No known remains discovered.
• No confirmed wreck site identified.
• The remains are likely buried under sediment near Chicago’s shoreline.

NOTMARs & Advisories

 Chicago’s early harbor was poorly sheltered, and many ships anchored offshore were lost in sudden storms. The “Francis” metal lifeboats used in the rescue were a new innovation at the time, improving survival chances in shipwreck rescues.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Tuscarora was a well-traveled Brig on the Great Lakes, serving for eight years before succumbing to a storm off Chicago in 1855. While the vessel was lost, her entire crew was saved in a daring rescue using early metal lifeboats, highlighting both the dangers of 19th-century shipping and the bravery of lake sailors. Though her remains are lost to time, she remains one of many forgotten casualties of Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather.