Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Brilliant
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length: 100 ft (30.5 m); Beam: 26.8 ft (8.2 m); Depth of hold: 7.7 ft (2.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 182 tons
- Location: Approximately 7 miles south of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, near Peterson’s Pier
- Official Number: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Brilliant was a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were favored for their speed and maneuverability, making them ideal for transporting bulk cargoes such as lumber across the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in Milwaukee in 1856, the Brilliant measured 100 feet in length with a beam of 26.8 feet and a depth of 7.7 feet, registering at 182 tons. Designed for the lumber trade, she was part of the bustling maritime commerce that was vital to the economic development of the Great Lakes region during that era.
History
In the mid-1800s, the Great Lakes were a hub of maritime activity, with schooners like the Brilliant playing a crucial role in transporting goods between burgeoning port cities. The lumber industry, in particular, relied heavily on such vessels to move timber from forests in the upper Midwest to markets in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.
On December 5, 1857, while carrying a cargo of lumber from Chicago to Sheboygan, the Brilliant encountered a severe storm. The vessel was driven ashore and wrecked on a shallow reef near Peterson’s Pier, approximately seven miles south of Sheboygan. Details about the fate of the crew are scarce, but the incident underscores the perils faced by mariners navigating the Great Lakes during this period.
Significant Incidents
- December 5, 1857: The Brilliant was driven ashore during a storm while en route from Chicago to Sheboygan with a cargo of lumber.
Final Disposition
The Brilliant was declared a total loss following the wreck. Given the technology and resources of the time, salvage operations would have been limited, and it’s likely that the remains of the vessel were left to deteriorate on the reef where she ran aground.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no documented discovery of the Brilliant‘s wreck site in modern times. The exact location remains unconfirmed, and the wreck has not been located or surveyed by contemporary maritime archaeologists.
There are no current navigational warnings or advisories related to the Brilliant‘s wreck site. Given the passage of time and lack of precise location data, the site does not pose a known hazard to navigation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”brillant-1856″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Brilliant serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes. Her loss highlights the dangers inherent in the lumber trade and maritime navigation during an era when weather forecasting was rudimentary and rescue resources were limited. While the exact location of her wreck remains unknown, the Brilliant‘s story contributes to our understanding of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Brilliant
- Official Number: Not documented
- Date Built and Launched: 1856
- Builder: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Dimensions: Length: 100 ft (30.5 m); Beam: 26.8 ft (8.2 m); Depth: 7.7 ft (2.3 m)
- Tonnage: 182 tons
- Date Lost: December 5, 1857
- Location of Loss: Approximately 7 miles south of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, near Peterson’s Pier
- Cause of Loss: Driven ashore during a storm while en route from Chicago to Sheboygan with a cargo of lumber (lakepedia.com, Wandering Educators, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, baillod.com, govalleykids.com, wuaa.org)
Vessel Type
The Brilliant was a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were favored for their speed and maneuverability, making them ideal for transporting bulk cargoes such as lumber across the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in Milwaukee in 1856, the Brilliant measured 100 feet in length with a beam of 26.8 feet and a depth of 7.7 feet, registering at 182 tons. Designed for the lumber trade, she was part of the bustling maritime commerce that was vital to the economic development of the Great Lakes region during that era.(baillod.com)
History
In the mid-1800s, the Great Lakes were a hub of maritime activity, with schooners like the Brilliant playing a crucial role in transporting goods between burgeoning port cities. The lumber industry, in particular, relied heavily on such vessels to move timber from forests in the upper Midwest to markets in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.
On December 5, 1857, while carrying a cargo of lumber from Chicago to Sheboygan, the Brilliant encountered a severe storm. The vessel was driven ashore and wrecked on a shallow reef near Peterson’s Pier, approximately seven miles south of Sheboygan. Details about the fate of the crew are scarce, but the incident underscores the perils faced by mariners navigating the Great Lakes during this period. (wuaa.org, baillod.com)
Final Disposition
The Brilliant was declared a total loss following the wreck. Given the technology and resources of the time, salvage operations would have been limited, and it’s likely that the remains of the vessel were left to deteriorate on the reef where she ran aground.
Located By & Date Found
There is no documented discovery of the Brilliant‘s wreck site in modern times. The exact location remains unconfirmed, and the wreck has not been located or surveyed by contemporary maritime archaeologists.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current navigational warnings or advisories related to the Brilliant‘s wreck site. Given the passage of time and lack of precise location data, the site does not pose a known hazard to navigation.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks: Brilliant (1856)
- Baillod’s Sheboygan Shipwrecks: Brilliant(wisconsinshipwrecks.org, baillod.com)
Conclusion
The Brilliant serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes. Her loss highlights the dangers inherent in the lumber trade and maritime navigation during an era when weather forecasting was rudimentary and rescue resources were limited. While the exact location of her wreck remains unknown, the Brilliant‘s story contributes to our understanding of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.
brillant-1856 1857-12-05 18:53:00