Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: S. THAL
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 115781
• Type at Loss: Schooner, Wood, Lumber Carrier
• Builder: B. Johnson, Oshkosh, Wisconsin (sometimes shown as 1881)
• Year Built: 1867
• Specifications: Length: 75 ft (22.86 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.10 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.22 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 55 tons
• Net Tonnage: 53 tons
• Date Lost: November 10, 1898
• Cause: Storm
• Place of Loss: Off Glencoe, Illinois
• Lake: Lake Michigan
• Cargo: Christmas Trees
• Loss of Life: 5 (all hands)

Vessel Type

The S. THAL was a wooden Schooner, primarily used as a lumber carrier, though at the time of her loss, she was transporting a cargo of Christmas trees bound for Chicago. This type of vessel was well-suited for coastal and nearshore operations on the Great Lakes, designed to carry bulk cargo such as timber, stone, and seasonal goods.

Description

Built in 1867 by B. Johnson in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the S. THAL was a small but sturdy vessel typical of the post-Civil War era. Measuring 75 feet in length with a beam of 20 feet, she was designed for the heavy demands of the Great Lakes lumber trade. Her shallow Draft of 4 feet allowed her to navigate the rivers and shallow harbors common along the Wisconsin and Michigan shorelines.

By the late 1890s, as steamships dominated the major freight routes, many aging schooners like the S. THAL were relegated to niche roles, such as hauling Christmas trees to urban markets—a tradition that gave rise to the famed “Christmas Tree Ships” of the Great Lakes.

History

The S. THAL had a long career on the Great Lakes, reflective of many small schooners that shifted roles as economic demands evolved. Originally built for the lumber trade during Wisconsin’s timber boom, she would have transported logs and milled lumber from northern forests to industrial hubs like Chicago and Milwaukee.

By the 1890s, with the lumber industry in decline and steamers outpacing sailing vessels, the S. THAL found seasonal work transporting Christmas trees from northern Wisconsin to Chicago. This trade catered to the growing demand from German and Scandinavian immigrant communities eager to maintain festive traditions during the holiday season.

Final Voyage & Loss

On November 9, 1898, the S. THAL, under the command of Captain August Scheunemann (brother of Captain Herman Scheunemann of the ill-fated ROUSE SIMMONS), departed Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, bound for Chicagowith an early shipment of Christmas trees. These seasonal voyages were both profitable and perilous, as late-autumn storms frequently battered the Great Lakes.

Caught in a violent gale on the night of November 9, the S. THAL attempted to ride out the storm by anchoring off Glencoe, Illinois. By morning, nothing remained but scattered wreckage—a grim testament to the storm’s ferocity. The Schooner had Foundered overnight, claiming the lives of all five crew members, including Captain Scheunemann.

The tragedy eerily foreshadowed the fate of the ROUSE SIMMONS, which would suffer a similar loss in 1912, becoming known as the infamous “Christmas Tree Ship.”

Final Disposition

• Declared a Total Loss: November 10, 1898
• Wreckage: Scattered off Glencoe, Illinois
• Casualties: 5 lives lost, including Captain August Scheunemann

The wreck of the S. THAL was never formally recovered, and much of her remains were likely consumed by the shifting sands and waves of Lake Michigan. Her story lives on as part of the broader narrative of the “Christmas Tree Ship” tradition.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database
• David Swayze’s Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Maritime Collection
• Christmas Tree Ship History

Conclusion

The S. THAL’s loss in 1898 is a poignant chapter in the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes, tied closely to the legacy of the Christmas Tree Ship tradition. Her sinking, along with the tragic loss of Captain August Scheunemann, serves as a somber precursor to the more famous disaster of the ROUSE SIMMONS over a decade later.

These small schooners were more than just cargo vessels—they were lifelines that connected communities, sustained family traditions, and, in their final voyages, became symbols of both hope and heartbreak on the Great Lakes.