Identification & Site Information

• Name: STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: Not available
• Date Built and Launched: 1859
• Measurements: 360 Tonnage (Old Style)
• Date Lost: November 3, 1862
• Vessel Type Wooden schooner

Description

The STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS was a wooden Schooner constructed in 1859 by shipbuilder Ellinwood at Sackett’s Harbor, New York. With a tonnage of 360 tons (old measurement), the vessel was designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Named after the prominent American politician Stephen A. Douglas, the Schooner served in the regional trade routes during the mid-19th century.

History

Throughout its operational life, the STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS was primarily engaged in transporting goods across the Great Lakes. On October 15, 1862, the Schooner was driven ashore west of the Manitou Islands on Lake Michigan and became stranded. The wrecking Tug LEVIATHAN was dispatched to assist, successfully pulling the vessel off the shore and installing two large steam pumps to manage water ingress. During the subsequent tow to Milwaukee, one of the pumps failed, causing the Schooner to take on water rapidly. Despite efforts to save the vessel, it filled with water and sank in deep waters on November 3, 1862. The crew managed to remove the pumps just before the Schooner submerged. There were no reported casualties, although one source suggests that the cook may have drowned. At the time of the incident, the STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS was owned by Willard Johnson & Turner of Oswego, with Captain Vickery serving as the master.

Final Disposition

The STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS sank in deep water west of the Manitou Islands on Lake Michigan on November 3, 1862, after a failed salvage operation. The vessel was considered a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

There are no records indicating that the wreck of the STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS has been located or surveyed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current navigational warnings or advisories are associated with the location of the STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS’s loss.

Resources & Links

• No additional resources available.

The loss of the STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS underscores the challenges faced by maritime vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, where unpredictable weather and mechanical failures often led to the loss of ships and cargo.

Keywords: STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, Schooner, Lake Michigan shipwreck, Manitou Islands, maritime history

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, 19th Century Vessels

Glossary Terms:

• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically rigged fore-and-aft.
• Tonnage: A measure of the size or cargo-carrying capacity of a ship.
• Wrecking Tug: A specialized vessel used to assist in salvage operations of stranded or sunken ships.
• Stranding: The running aground of a ship, leading to potential damage or loss.
• Steam Pump: A mechanical device powered by steam used to remove water from a vessel’s Hull.