Alice Craig

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Alice Craig
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: Merry & Gay, Milton, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 62.7 ft (19.1 m); Beam 18.4 ft (5.6 m); Depth of hold 6.1 ft (1.9 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 43.01 tons
• Location: Lake Superior, near Bayfield, Wisconsin
• Official Number: 554
• Original Owners: Frank Boutin
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner.

Description

Originally constructed as the US Revenue Cutter John B. Floyd, the vessel was one of six cutters built for service on the Great Lakes. She was designed for duties including the collection of import duties, law enforcement, assistance to mariners in distress, and the establishment of aids to navigation. After her decommissioning and sale in 1864, she was renamed Alice Craig and repurposed for commercial use.

History

The John B. Floyd served on Lake Superior until 1864, stationed either at Bayfield, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Michigan. In 1864, she was decommissioned and sold at public auction. In 1867, Frank Boutin purchased her, renamed her Alice Craig, and utilized her for fishing and cargo delivery operations out of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. By 1870, the Boutin family had relocated their operations to Bayfield, Wisconsin.

On November 18, 1887, while en route to Siskiwit Bay with a cargo of camp supplies, the Alice Craig encountered a severe storm. Reports indicate that she either foundered off Bayfield or was driven ashore near Bark Point, possibly in Eagle Bay. The crew endured a harrowing night but were rescued by a fishing yawl the following morning. The vessel, valued at approximately $2,500 at the time, was considered a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• Decommissioned and sold in 1864.
• Renamed Alice Craig in 1867.
• Lost in a storm on November 18, 1887.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss due to storm damage, the Alice Craig was not salvaged and remains a shipwreck in Lake Superior.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Alice Craig has not been definitively located or confirmed in modern times. No current navigational warnings or official markers exist for the wreck site in Lake Superior.

Resources & Links

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The Alice Craig exemplifies the multifaceted roles of vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, transitioning from government service to commercial enterprise. Her loss underscores the perils faced by mariners navigating the often treacherous waters of Lake Superior.