M.I. WILCOX

Site Description #

Chronological History #

The M.I. Wilcox, a schooner built in Toledo, Ohio, was enrolled in 1868 and primarily operated in the lumber trade. Over the years, the ownership of the vessel changed hands. In 1876, it was owned by Bissell & Miner of Toledo, and by 1879, it was owned by Miner of Cape Vincent, New York. In 1886, the M.I. Wilcox was towed by the steam barge HURON CITY, and in 1890, it was towed by the propeller D.J. FOLEY.

By 1903, the Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Company of Detroit became the owner of the M.I. Wilcox, and it was now towed by the steam barge OGEMAW. On May 2, 1868, the vessel was launched, and exactly 38 years and one week later, on May 9, 1906, it met its unfortunate fate. Caught in a southwest storm in the western basin of Lake Erie, the M.I. Wilcox found itself in shallow waters, approximately 26 feet deep, as it was blown into the shoals and shoreline of Colchester, Ontario.

News reports from May 10, 1906, indicate that the crew of the M.I. Wilcox managed to reach Detroit after the incident. The crew consisted of four men and a woman cook, who unfortunately lost all their belongings. They worked tirelessly for over 10 hours, operating the pumps to try and salvage the vessel, but the pumps were often ineffective due to being clogged.

According to the Great Lakes Register of 1900, the M.J. Wilcox had a gross tonnage of 377 tons and a net tonnage of 358 tons. It was built in Toledo, Ohio, in 1868 by Bailey and measured 137.0 feet in length, 27.6 feet in width, and 14.0 feet in depth. Constructed using oak, the vessel was owned by Thomas Murphy.

The Merchant Vessel List of the United States in 1904 provides additional details, listing the M.J. Wilcox with a gross tonnage of 377 tons and a net tonnage of 358 tons. Its home port was Sandusky, Ohio, and it had a length of 137.0 feet, a width of 27.5 feet, and a depth of 12.7 feet. The vessel typically operated with a crew of six.