Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Eva M. Cone (1859)

Explore the wreck of the Eva M. Cone, a 19th-century schooner that capsized in Milwaukee Harbor due to ice flows. A potential dive site for history enthusiasts.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Eva M. Cone
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1859
  • Builder: Oconto, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: 51 ft (15.5 m) L × 14 ft (4.3 m) beam × 5 ft (1.5 m) depth
  • Registered Tonnage: Approx. 22 tons
  • Location: Near Milwaukee Harbor, Wisconsin
  • Official Number: 7522
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Eva M. Cone was a two-masted wooden schooner primarily used for the lumber trade. Built in 1859, she was typical of small-scale schooners of her era, designed for harbor-to-harbor transport.

Description

Measuring 51 feet in length with a beam of 14 feet and a depth of 5 feet, the Eva M. Cone was constructed to carry approximately 22 tons of cargo, primarily lumber. Her design was suited for navigating the waters of Lake Michigan.

History

Built in Oconto, Wisconsin, the Eva M. Cone regularly transported wood across Lake Michigan. Prior to her final voyage, she sustained minor damage, including losing her deck load in December 1871 and her foretop in April 1872. She departed Port Washington bound for Milwaukee when disaster struck.

Significant Incidents

  • On April 22, 1872, while clearing the pier, the jibboom broke, pushing the vessel off course toward shore.
  • A heavy northerly storm brought ice onto the mouth of Milwaukee Harbor, causing the Eva M. Cone to strike an ice floe, capsize, and sink shortly after noon.
  • All crew members made it safely into the vessel’s boat and reached shore; no lives were lost.

Final Disposition

The Eva M. Cone capsized and sank, later drifting ashore. An official abandonment was recorded in Milwaukee on April 20, 1872, stating ‘Total Loss.’ There is no record of salvage or site survey, but the wreck may be located in shallow waters near Milwaukee harbor.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, with no documented salvage efforts. It is believed that the remains may be accessible in shallow waters, making it a potential dive site for those interested in maritime history.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”eva-m-cone-1859″ title=”References & Links”]

The Eva M. Cone met an abrupt end after striking ice near Milwaukee amid heavy northerly weather on April 22, 1872. Despite no fatalities, her capsizing and sinking reflect the dangers of early-season ice flows. Her remains—potentially nearshore—offer an accessible dive target and a tangible link to mid-19th-century lumber schooners. A combined archival investigation and geophysical survey could reveal her submerged story.

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

  • Official Number: 7522 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Built: 1859 in Oconto, Wisconsin; two-masted wooden schooner for lumber trade (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
  • Dimensions: 51 ft L × 14 ft beam × 5 ft depth; approx. 22 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Cargo: Lumber
  • Final Voyage: Departed early in the season from Port Washington, bound for Milwaukee, when disaster struck near the harbor entrance.

Incident & Final Voyage

  • While clearing the pier, the jibboom broke, pushing her off course toward shore (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • A heavy northerly storm brought ice onto the mouth of Milwaukee Harbor. The EVA M. CONE struck an ice floe, capsized, and sank shortly after noontime on April 22, 1872 (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • Crew: All made it safely into the vessel’s boat and reached shore; no lives lost (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Wreck & Aftermath

  • Wreck Condition: Capsized and sank; later drifted ashore.
  • Enrollment: Official abandonment recorded in Milwaukee on April 20, 1872, stating “Total Loss” (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • Remains: No record of salvage or site survey; potential shallow-water wreck near Milwaukee harbor.

Vessel History & Context

  • Built in the lumber port of Oconto, she regularly transported wood across Lake Michigan.
  • Sustained minor damage (lost deck load in December 1871; lost foretop in April 1872) before her final voyage (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • A typical small-scale schooner of the era, designed for harbor-to-harbor lumber runs.

Research Gaps & Recommended Steps

AreaAction
Precise Wreck LocationConduct side-scan sonar survey just offshore from Milwaukee harbor entrance to detect lumber debris or hull remains.
Local Newspaper ArchivesInvestigate Milwaukee press (April 1872) for firsthand details on the sinking and salvage actions.
Port RecordsConsult breakwater or harbor masters’ logs from Port Washington and Milwaukee for navigational mishaps.
Maritime RegulationsReview enrollment and abandonment papers for additional details on condition and value.

Conclusion

The EVA M. CONE met an abrupt end after striking ice near Milwaukee amid heavy northerly weather on April 22, 1872. Despite no fatalities, her capsizing and sinking reflect the dangers of early-season ice flows. Her remains—potentially nearshore—offer an accessible dive target and a tangible link to mid-19th-century lumber schooners. A combined archival investigation and geophysical survey could reveal her submerged story.

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