CITY OF MILWAUKEE U4276

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The City of Milwaukee was originally constructed as a three-masted bark, later operated as a schooner. Barks and schooners were common on the Great Lakes, where they were primarily used for transporting bulk cargoes such as lumber, coal, and limestone. The City of Milwaukee, with its large cargo capacity and robust construction, was well-suited for the challenging conditions often encountered on the lakes.

HISTORY #

The City of Milwaukee was built in 1861 by Peck & Masters in Cleveland, Ohio. The vessel was designed as a bark, a type of sailing ship with three or more masts, but operated as a schooner throughout much of its career. With a gross tonnage of 436 tons and a length of 141 feet, the City of Milwaukee was a significant cargo carrier on the Great Lakes.

The vessel’s ownership changed several times throughout its 14-year career. Initially owned by Charles Ensign and others in Buffalo, New York, the schooner later came under the ownership of Nims & Gibson, also of Buffalo, and D.D. Hannett. By 1874, the City of Milwaukee was owned by Elisha Eldred of Chicago, Illinois. The master of the vessel at the time of its loss was Captain Joseph Wilson, also from Chicago.

On November 5, 1875, the City of Milwaukee was carrying a cargo of limestone, bound for Marquette, Michigan, when it encountered severe storm conditions on Lake Huron. The storm caused the vessel to leak, and despite the crew’s best efforts to control the water ingress, the schooner began to founder. The crew abandoned ship and took to the vessel’s yawl boat. They were later rescued by the passing schooner Mary L. Higgie. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the incident.

The sinking of the City of Milwaukee marked the end of its 14-year career on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s loss highlights the constant dangers faced by sailors and ships operating on these inland seas, particularly during the unpredictable and often severe weather of the late fall.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The City of Milwaukee foundered on November 5, 1875, in Lake Huron after encountering a severe storm. The vessel’s crew was safely rescued by the schooner Mary L. Higgie. The wreck’s exact location remains unknown, and it is likely that the vessel settled on the lakebed, where it has remained undisturbed.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The wreck of the City of Milwaukee has not been definitively located. The vessel sank in Lake Huron, but the precise coordinates and depth are not documented.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of the City of Milwaukee. Mariners navigating Lake Huron should be mindful of the lake’s history of shipwrecks and exercise caution, especially in areas known for hazardous weather conditions.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Great Lakes Ships
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database

CONCLUSION #

The City of Milwaukee was a sturdy and capable schooner that served on the Great Lakes for 14 years before it met its demise in 1875. The vessel’s sinking during a storm on Lake Huron underscores the dangers of maritime navigation in the region, where sudden and violent weather could quickly turn a routine voyage into a life-threatening situation. The rescue of the crew by a passing schooner was a fortunate outcome, but the loss of the City of Milwaukee remains a somber chapter in the history of Great Lakes shipping.

KEYWORDS #

• City of Milwaukee schooner
• Lake Huron shipwreck
• 19th-century shipwreck
• Great Lakes maritime history
• Limestone cargo
• Maritime rescue

GPS COORDINATES & ADDITIONAL INFO #

Specific GPS coordinates for the wreck site of the City of Milwaukee are not available. Further research and exploration may provide more precise information about the location and condition of the wreck. The vessel’s story remains a part of the rich tapestry of Great Lakes history.