Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Dawn US 6127

Explore the wreck of the Dawn, a 19th-century schooner that capsized in Lake Michigan, offering insights into maritime history and the challenges faced by sailing vessels.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Dawn
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1858
  • Builder: John Oades
  • Dimensions: Length 87.3 ft (26.6 m); Beam 19.1 ft (5.8 m); Depth of hold 7.5 ft (2.3 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 82.29
  • Location: Lake Michigan, near Fox Point (Milwaukee County)
  • Coordinates: N 44° 27.324′ / W 087° 29.803′
  • Official Number: 6127
  • Original Owners: Capt. August Williamson (last known owner)
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

  • Type: Schooner
  • Rig: Two-masted
  • Propulsion: Sail
  • Hull Material: Wood

Description

  • Length: 87.3 ft / 26.6 m
  • Beam: 19.1 ft / 5.8 m
  • Depth of Hold: 7.5 ft / 2.3 m
  • Gross Tonnage: 82.29
  • Cargo at Loss: 100,000 ft of seasoned maple lumber from Traverse Bay bound for Milwaukee

History

  • 1858: Built in Clayton, NY
  • 1871 & 1882: Underwent repairs, the latter classified as “major”
  • 1874: Rated as Class B2
  • 1891: Rated by Lloyd’s as B1½, insured for $1,000
  • Late 1891: Sold to Capt. August Williamson from Capt. Halverson (Sheboygan)

Significant Incidents

  • Departed Traverse Bay carrying lumber to Milwaukee.
  • Began leaking off Manitou; crew managed with pumps temporarily.
  • Attempted to harbor twice, but small crew and adverse winds prevented successful entry.
  • By nightfall August 22, the water overwhelmed the bilge control.
  • Around 2 AM, August 23, the vessel capsized off Port Washington in heavy seas.
  • Three crew members clung to the upper rail until rescued by the steambarge John Schroeder.
  • The Dawn eventually beached near Fox Point and was declared a total loss.
  • Salvage included anchors, rigging, and large quantities of lumber recovered per Milwaukee Sentinel, August 28, 1891.

Final Disposition

  • Date: August 23, 1891
  • Incident Summary: The vessel capsized due to leaking and storm conditions, leading to her beaching and total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Wreck is known to have beached; no formal underwater archaeological survey has documented remains.
  • Site believed to be dispersed or buried near shore at Fox Point, WI.

Resources & Links

The loss of Dawn in 1891 illustrates the persistent vulnerability of late 19th-century schooners operating with reduced crews and heavy deck loads in transitional weather. Despite her age, she remained in regular use and had been recently purchased, indicating the economic utility of smaller sail-powered freighters even into the age of steam. Her complete capsizing, subsequent beaching, and partial salvage form a well-documented closure to her decades-long service on the Great Lakes.