The propeller Wisconsin was built in 1852 at Ohio City (Cleveland), Ohio. It was a passenger and freight vessel with a wooden hull and two decks. Presley & Stevens constructed the ship for Chamberlin & Crawford of Cleveland. The Wisconsin had a length of 137 feet 6 inches, a beam of 24 feet 10 inches, and a depth of 11 feet. With a tonnage of 352.63 in the old measurement style, it was propelled by a single mast and a screw.
Tragically, on May 21, 1867, the Wisconsin met its final fate. While traveling near Grenadier Island in Lake Ontario, a fire broke out above the boilers. The captain immediately ran the vessel ashore, but the fire consumed it until it was completely destroyed, burning to the water’s edge. Unfortunately, during the chaotic situation, passengers and crew members attempting to launch the lifeboat while the ship was still moving drowned. At least 23 lives were lost in the incident.
The Wisconsin had an eventful history leading up to its demise. In 1853, it was seized by the U.S. Marshall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for violating revenue laws but was later released on bond. It came under the ownership of the Northern Transportation Company based in Ogdensburg, New York, in 1855. The ship experienced various incidents, including a burst water jacket on its boiler in 1856, which required repairs in Buffalo. It ran aground on rocks at Long Sault in the St. Lawrence River in October 1857 but was eventually freed. In October 1858, it collided with the schooner KNAPP during a storm in Racine, Wisconsin harbor. A broken shaft was repaired in November 1858 in Buffalo. The vessel underwent rebuilding in 1867 before its final and tragic destruction.
On May 22, 1867, news of the Wisconsin’s loss spread. The vessel burned three miles from Cape Vincent, and approximately 20 lives, including those of the first and second engineers, were lost. The Northern Transportation Company, which owned the ship, anticipated it would be a total loss. The vessel was insured for $15,000, representing three-fourths of its value.
Amidst the confusion following the incident, some details emerged regarding the Wisconsin’s last voyage. The ship departed its dock around 11 p.m., and when it reached the head of Grenadier Island, about two miles from the shore, the captain of the watch noticed the fire. Orders were given to prepare the boats for the passengers’ evacuation and ensure their safety. The propeller lay approximately six rods (around 100 feet) from the shore and was ultimately destroyed. While it is uncertain how many passengers were lost, seven bodies were found near Cape Vincent. Efforts were made to comfort the survivors.
The article provides lists of survivors and those known to be lost, including passengers and crew members. Among the saved were individuals from various locations such as Lawrence, Massachusetts; West Meath, Canada; Forrestville, Michigan; Royalville, Vermont; and many others. The lost individuals included passengers from Chateuga, Pottsdam, Pembroke (Canada East), Odessa (Canada West), Craftsburg, Manchester (New Hampshire), Oswego, and more. The crew members mentioned were Captain Lawson, second mate James Shaver, wheelsman C.W. Haver, and steward C.W. Dolge.
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