Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Flying Cloud
- Type: Two-masted schooner, lumber trade
- Year Built: 1852
- Builder: Racine, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 85.58 ft (26.07 m) X 23.17 ft (7.06 m); Depth of hold: 7 ft (2.13 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 35 gross tons
- Location: 8 miles off Racine, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 42° 43.538′ N, 87° 40.408′ W
- Original Owners: Original: Alexander Stebbins (Racine, WI); ½ interest sold to Seneca Raymond (Racine, WI) on March 30, 1853
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted schooner designed for the lumber trade, reflecting mid-19th century Great Lakes shipbuilding practices.
Description
The Flying Cloud was a wooden schooner built in 1852, optimized for carrying lumber and bulk cargo. With a length of 85.58 ft and a beam of 23.17 ft, it was designed for short-haul transport in local harbors.
History
Entered service in 1852, the Flying Cloud operated primarily between Milwaukee, Racine, and Michigan ports. Its operational history is limited, with records mainly pertaining to its capsizing and subsequent salvage efforts.
Significant Incidents
- September 17-18, 1853: Capsized during a Lake Michigan squall approximately 8 miles off Racine. Crew abandoned ship and reached shore safely.
- September 20, 1853: Marine reports indicated the wreck was adrift and unrecovered.
- September 22, 1853: Underwriters began total loss proceedings.
- October 1853: Discovered floating by the schooner New Hampshire and towed to Muskegon, Illinois.
- November 2, 1853: Confirmed by the Buffalo Daily Republic that the wreck had been adrift for weeks before towage.
Final Disposition
Initially declared a total loss, the Flying Cloud was towed in but records ceased in 1853, suggesting a constructive total loss despite physical recovery. No further records indicate re-rigging or new enrollment, implying probable abandonment post-tow.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No verified wreckage exists today; the vessel was likely salvaged or dismantled after towage. The reported coordinates reflect the capsize site, not a wreck site, and thus there is no shore dive or ROV target present.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”flying-cloud” title=”References & Links”]
The Flying Cloud serves as an example of early Racine-built schooners in the local lumber trade and illustrates mid-19th century salvage practices, highlighting the weather vulnerability of low-tonnage vessels in open waters.
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, 1852)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Flying Cloud
- Type: Two‑masted schooner, lumber trade
- Official Dimensions:
- Length: 85.58 ft (26.07 m)
- Beam: 23.17 ft (7.06 m)
- Depth of Hold: 7 ft (2.13 m)
- Tonnage: 35 gross tons
- Hull Material: Wood
- Propulsion: Sail, 2 masts, schooner rig
- Cargo at Loss: Lumber
- Build Location & Year: 1852, Racine, Wisconsin
- Home Port: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Registry: Last enrollment at Milwaukee, 29 July 1853
- Ownership:
- Original: Alexander Stebbins (Racine, WI)
- 30 March 1853: ½ interest sold to Seneca Raymond (Racine, WI)
Reported Wreck Coordinates:
- Latitude: 42° 43.538’ N
- Longitude: 87° 40.408’ W
- Approximate Location: 8 miles off Racine, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
Construction & Design
- Standard mid‑19th century Great Lakes schooner optimized for lumber and bulk cargo
- Flat floors and moderate draft suited to harbors like Racine and Milwaukee
- Light tonnage (35 GT) reflects design for short‑haul lake transport rather than deep‑lake bulk trades
- Likely built by Racine shipwrights for local owners, as reflected in the port‑based co‑ownership
Operational History
- Entered service 1852–1853 in the lumber trade between Milwaukee, Racine, and Michigan ports
- Early records are sparse; only known events pertain to its capsizing and subsequent partial salvage
Final Voyage & Incident Chronology
- September 17–18, 1853
- Flying Cloud capsized during a Lake Michigan squall approximately 8 miles off Racine (Racine Advocate, 9/25/1853)
- Crew abandoned ship in the schooner’s small boat and reached shore safely
- Initial reports suggested total loss, and a propeller tug was dispatched for potential recovery
- September 20, 1853
- Marine reports list the wreck as adrift and unrecovered ([MS 9/20/1853])
- September 22, 1853
- Still not taken in tow; underwriters begin total loss proceedings
- October 1853
- Floating wreck discovered by schooner New Hampshire
- Vessel towed to Muskegon, Illinois (likely modern Muskegon, Michigan per cross‑lake drift pattern) (Grand River Times, 9/27/1853)
- November 2, 1853
- Buffalo Daily Republic confirms wreck had been adrift for “weeks” before towage
- Underwriters had already listed total loss of $4,500; insurance likely only partially offset
Fate & Salvage Assessment
- Though initially declared a total loss, Flying Cloud was eventually towed in
- Enrollment records cease in 1853 → suggests constructive total loss (CTL) despite physical recovery
- No further records of re‑rigging or new enrollment found; probable abandonment post‑tow
Archaeological & Dive Information
- No verified wreckage exists today; vessel was almost certainly salvaged or dismantled after towage
- Reported coordinates reflect capsize site, not a wreck site
- As such, no shore dive or ROV target is present, and this case is primarily historical
Historical Significance
- Example of early Racine-built schooners serving local lumber trade before the rise of larger three‑masted bulk schooners
- Illustrates mid‑19th century salvage practices, where floating hulks were often reclaimed weeks after abandonment
- Incident demonstrates weather vulnerability of low‑tonnage schooners in the open lake
Primary Sources & Archival Links
- Racine Advocate, Sept 25, 1853 – first public notice of capsizing
- Grand River Times, Sept 27, 1853 – report of wreck still afloat
- Buffalo Daily Republic, Nov 4, 1853 – confirmation of towage by New Hampshire
- [Milwaukee Enrollment Records, July 29, 1853] – final legal enrollment
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database – summary and tonnage data
- Baillod, 2008. Wisconsin’s Underwater Heritage Journal – scow & schooner loss listing
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Flying Cloud |
| Type / Rig | Schooner, 2‑masted |
| Built | 1852, Racine, Wisconsin |
| Dimensions | 85.58 × 23.17 × 7 ft (26.07 × 7.06 × 2.13 m) |
| Tonnage | 35 GT |
| Cargo at Loss | Lumber |
| Date of Loss | Sept 17–18, 1853 |
| Cause | Capsized in squall |
| Crew / Lives Lost | 0 / 0 |
| Fate | Declared total loss; towed to Muskegon |
| Historical Significance | Rare early Racine-built schooner |