Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Bohemian

Explore the wreck of the Bohemian, a wooden schooner lost in 1856 on Lake Michigan, with a rich history of industrial shipping and a mysterious undiscovered wreck site.

GPS: 43.380233, -87.867933

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Bohemian
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: Fitzhugh & Littlejohn, Oswego, NY
  • Dimensions: Length: 137 ft (41.75 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.92 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.35 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 372.54 tons
  • Location: Port Washington, WI
  • Coordinates: N 43° 22.814' / W 087° 52.076'
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Wooden schooner

Description

The Bohemian was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1856, measuring 137 feet in length and 26 feet in beam. She was designed for heavy freight transport, particularly industrial cargo.

History

Launched in June 1856, the Bohemian had a brief service life of only four months, during which she was involved in the burgeoning industrial shipping scene of the Great Lakes, primarily carrying high-value cargo for P.W. Gates & Co.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: October 22, 1856
  • Route: Oswego, NY to Chicago, IL
  • Grounded near Port Washington, WI, and broke apart in heavy surf; all crew members were rescued.

Final Disposition

The Bohemian was declared a total loss after breaking apart in heavy surf. Portions of her cargo were recovered during dredging in 1930, but the hull and primary wreck site remain undiscovered.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site of the Bohemian has not been located. No modern dive records or sonar imaging have confirmed its position, and it is likely buried in shifting sand south of the historic Port Washington pier.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”bohemian” title=”References & Links”]

The Bohemian serves as a significant example of mid-19th-century Great Lakes shipping, illustrating the risks of navigation during the fall season. The undiscovered wreck site presents an opportunity for future archaeological exploration.

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.

Schooner (Built 1856 – Lost 1856)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name(s): Bohemian
  • Official Build: Wooden schooner
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 137 ft / 41.75 m
    • Beam: 26 ft / 7.92 m
    • Depth of hold: 11 ft / 3.35 m
    • Gross tonnage: 372.54 tons
  • Rig & Propulsion: Sail-powered, two-masted schooner (though some records list “0 masts,” likely a clerical error)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Home Port: Oswego, New York
  • Registry & Builder:
    • Builder: Fitzhugh & Littlejohn, Oswego, NY
    • Year built: 1856
    • Launched: Buffalo, NY, June 1856
  • Location of Loss:
    • Body of water: Lake Michigan
    • County: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
    • Nearest City: Port Washington, WI
    • Coordinates: N 43° 22.814′ / W 087° 52.076′
    • Depth: Unknown – remains not located

Cargo & Commercial Role

  • On her maiden commercial voyages, the Bohemian carried high-value industrial cargo for P.W. Gates & Co. (a Chicago iron foundry and machinery firm):
    • Boilers
    • Hoops
    • Pig iron
    • Railroad iron and wheels
  • Approximate cargo value: $10,000 USD (1856 dollars)

Service History

  • Launched June 1856, Bohemian had an exceptionally short service life of 4 months.
  • She was part of the rapid expansion of Great Lakes industrial shipping during the 1850s, specializing in heavy freight such as iron and machinery.

Final Voyage & Wreck Event

  • Date of Loss: October 22, 1856
  • Route: Oswego, NY → Chicago, IL (via Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan)
  • Event Summary (per Milwaukee Sentinel, October 27, 1856, p. 2, col. 5):
    1. At daylight, townspeople at Port Washington observed a schooner driving toward shore south of the South Pier.
    2. The vessel grounded bow-first, creating a temporary lee for a lifeboat launch.
    3. The Port Washington Life Boat crew made multiple trips, rescuing all 10 crew members.
    4. The captain and mate were the last to leave, standard maritime practice.
  • The Bohemian broke apart in heavy surf; declared total loss.
  • Casualties: None.

Post-Wreck Notes

  • Portions of the cargo were recovered in 1930 during Port Washington harbor dredging, including iron and metal fittings.
  • The hull and primary wreck site remain undiscovered.

Located By & Site Status

  • Not located.
  • No modern dive records or confirmed sonar imaging exist.
  • Likely dispersed or buried in shifting sand south of the historic Port Washington pier.

Research Gaps & Archival Sources

  • Wisconsin Historical Society Maritime Preservation & Archaeology Program maintains the primary record.
  • Next steps for researchers:
    • Side-scan sonar survey south of the old South Pier.
    • Archive review of Buffalo and Oswego shipyards (1856 launch lists) for enrollment and owner details.
    • Insurance and cargo claim records for P.W. Gates & Co., Chicago.

Conclusion

The Bohemian is a classic example of mid‑19th‑century Great Lakes industrial shipping, lost during a rapid transition toward heavier, steam-powered freight. Although all hands survived, the vessel’s total loss after only 4 months in service highlights the perils of fall navigation on Lake Michigan. The undiscovered wreck site remains a potential archaeological target for future surveys near Port Washington.

Keywords / Categories

Lake Michigan; Ozaukee County; schooner; wood hull; 1856; cargo: pig iron & machinery; wrecked; gale; total loss; undiscovered wreck; maritime archaeology target.

bohemian 1856-10-22 00:42:00