Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DAN SICKLES
- Type: Wooden, single-deck scow schooner
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: J. M. Jones
- Dimensions: 78 ft L × 19 ft B × 5 ft D
- Registered Tonnage: 68 GRT
- Location: Approximately 2 miles north of Sturgeon Bay Canal’s eastern entrance
- Official Number: 35180
- Original Owners: Charles Freeman, F. Grange and associates
- Number of Masts: Two-mast
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden, single-deck scow schooner, fore-and-aft rigged with two masts.
Description
Description
The DAN SICKLES was a wooden scow schooner built in 1864. It measured 78 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and had a depth of 5 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 68 GRT.
History
History
The DAN SICKLES was rebuilt in 1866 at Elba Island, MI. In 1867, it lost its fore topmast during heavy weather and was sunk in November after striking the wreck of the MARY STEWART. The vessel was subsequently raised and repaired. Ownership changed hands several times, with Charles Freeman of Milwaukee owning it in 1871 and F. Grange and associates in 1876.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- 1866: Rebuilt at Elba Island, MI.
- 1867: Lost fore topmast during heavy weather; sunk after striking wreck of MARY STEWART, then raised and repaired.
- 1878: Capsized in a squall near Sturgeon Bay, resulting in its final wreck.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
On May 4, 1878, while bound from Washington Island to Milwaukee carrying cordwood, the DAN SICKLES encountered a sudden squall off Sturgeon Bay entrance in Lake Michigan and capsized. It was washed ashore approximately 2 miles north of Sturgeon Bay Canal’s eastern entrance and was declared a total wreck. No fatalities were recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, but it is presumed to have been dismantled or left on shore after being declared a total wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dan-sickles-us-35180″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The DAN SICKLES illustrates the repeated risks faced by small cargo schooners in the dynamic Great Lakes environment, reflected through its rebuild after sinking and its eventual demise in a squall near Sturgeon Bay on May 4, 1878. Further archival work, particularly in newspapers and harbor records, could enrich details about the crew, salvage efforts, and vessel’s final disposition.
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