Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Steam Screw Propeller Belle (Registry No. 2159; launched July 9, 1860)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name / Registry: Belle, steam‑screw propeller vessel, U.S. Registry No. 2159 (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Built: 1860 by D. M. Hagadon at Port Huron, Michigan (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Owners / Home Port: George Wall, Redcliffe, William Lurkkins; Milwaukee, Wisconsin – record of last enrollment on April 14, 1869 in Milwaukee (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Loss: 20 November 1869, approximately 3 miles off Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Lake Michigan
• Coordinates: N 43° 23.170′, W 87° 48.599′; depth ca. 360 ft (110 m) as reported in user details

Vessel Specifications

• Type: Wooden-hulled steam screw (propeller)
• Length: 90.50 ft (27.6 m)
• Beam: 19.60 ft (6.0 m)
• Depth of Hold: 7.50 ft (2.3 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 235 tons
• Propulsion: Steam screw, no sailing rig (zero masts)
• Cargo at Time of Loss: ~30 cords of wood, 53,000 shingles, 4,000–5,000 board feet of hardwood lumber; one passenger (Mr. Desold) (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)

History & Service

• Launched July 9, 1860, on Cleveland–Black River–Kelly Island route; later redeployed Milwaukee–Manitowoc service. In 1868 purchased by current owners for ~$15,000; insured at ~$10,000 (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Final enrollment recorded in Milwaukee April 14, 1869 (US Data)

Final Voyage & Loss

• On 20 November 1869, while leaving Milwaukee bound for Manitowoc with a heavy lumber cargo, Belle caught fire in the cabin woodwork around the smokestack. The fire spread rapidly as she steamed about three miles off Port Washington.
• Crew abandoned ship; Captain became entangled in lines and drowned. One crew member drowned when the yawl capsized during rescue efforts. The bark C. J. Hutchinson rescued survivors and recovered the captain’s body. The vessel was entirely destroyed by fire (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).

Located By & Site Status

• No confirmed archaeological location or underwater survey records appear in statewide maritime databases. The wreck lies at an estimated depth of ~360 ft (~110 m) if the depth data is accurate.
• No wreck site coordinate in diver logs or NOAA/NGO databases indicating discovery. No Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins specifically note this loss in modern navigational publications.

Notmars & Advisories

• No documented hazard marking or official maritime advisory on the wreck location; not listed within Wisconsin’s Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary database.

Resources & References

• Detailed ship profile in Wisconsin Shipwrecks database: Belle (1860) (NOAA Institutional Repository, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
• Marine-Disasters 1869 summary: propeller Belle destroyed by fire off Port Washington; two lives lost (US Data)

Research Gaps & Next Steps

• Crew and casualty records: Captain’s full name, crew manifests, or Mr. Desold passenger credentials are not identified—research through enrollment ledgers at Bowling Green HCGL or Milwaukee port authority may yield names or casualty lists.
• Local newspapers: Sheboygan and Milwaukee newspapers of late November 1869 may contain eyewitness reports, obituary notices, loss of life details, and insurance claims.
• Insurance files: Given under‑insurance, insurers may have pursued ownership or salvage claims; checking marine insurance archives or local maritime legal records could yield documentation.
• Salvage operations: Investigate whether any salvage occurred post-loss—wreck reports or salvage logs may exist in local archives.
• Wreck survey: At ~360 ft depth the site lies beyond recreational diving; a ROV-based search using approximate coordinates may locate remains if preserved.

Conclusion

The Belle serves as a case study in mid‑19th century small‑scale steamboat operation on Lake Michigan. Despite carrying a modest cargo and just one passenger, her fiery loss underscores the risks of wood‑fired engines and the unreliability of fire prevention aboard early propeller steamers. Two fatalities occurred, and the vessel was totally consumed. The wreck remains unlocated and undocumented—presenting potential for future ROV survey or archival deep‑water exploration to close a gap in Wisconsin’s maritime history.

Keywords / Categories

Lake Michigan; steam screw; fire; 1869 loss; Port Washington; wooden propeller steamer; under-insured; two fatalities; deep water wreck; archival research opportunity.

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