Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Greyhound
- Type: Brig
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Conneaut, Ohio
- Dimensions: 130 ft (39.6 m); Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 367 tons
- Location: Off Clay Banks, approx. 1 mile south of Kirkland’s pier, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: ~43°44.072′ N, 87°42.479′ W
- Original Owners: Lockwood & Kinney, Buffalo, NY
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden, two-masted brig, used for bulk cargo shipments—here, wheat—across the Great Lakes.
Description
- Built: 1853, Conneaut, Ohio
- Hull: Wood
- Length: 130 ft (39.6 m)
- Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Depth of Hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 367 tons
History
- Owners: Lockwood & Kinney, Buffalo, NY
- Final Voyage: Departed Chicago on 16 September 1859 carrying 13,000 bushels of wheat consigned to Buffalo, sourced from Watson & Fox.
- Incident: A powerful northeast gale struck on 19 September. Attempting to seek refuge, the brig mistook Sheboygan’s light for Milwaukee’s and was driven ashore near Clay Banks.
- Aftermath: The vessel grounded hard during darkness and rain; anchors were dropped but failed to hold. The brig broke up completely, becoming a total loss along with her cargo.
Significant Incidents
- Grounding during gale; structural failure led to loss.
- One crewman drowned during landing efforts; name unrecorded.
Final Disposition
- Vessel Value: US $15,000
- Insured: Cargo insured by Buffalo Mutual; hull insured for US $4,000 by Hope Company of New York.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Her loss was documented in local Sheboygan newspapers at the time. Contemporary wreck surveys place the remains near Clay Banks, just seaward of the shore. No modern archaeological investigations are known.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”greyhound-1853″ title=”References & Links”]
The Greyhound‘s wreck vividly illustrates the dangers of late-season navigation on Lake Michigan, where sudden northeast gales could prove fatal to even experienced captains. Mistaking lighthouses under poor visibility hastened her demise. Financially, the loss was cushioned by insurance, but personally it remains poignant for the one crew member who drowned. Today, her grounding spot near Sheboygan is remembered as one of several mid-19th-century wheat brig disasters on the lake.
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: Greyhound
- Official Number: (not specified)
- Year Built: 1853
- Final Location: Off Clay Banks, approx. 1 mile south of Kirkland’s pier, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 19 September 1859
- Coordinates: ~43°44.072′ N, 87°42.479′ W (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
Vessel Type
Wooden, two‑masted brig, used for bulk cargo shipments—here, wheat—across the Great Lakes.
Description
- Built: 1853, Conneaut, Ohio
- Hull: Wood
- Length: 130 ft (39.6 m)
- Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)
- Depth of Hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 367 tons (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
History & Final Voyage
- Owners: Lockwood & Kinney, Buffalo, NY
- Final Voyage: Departed Chicago on 16 September 1859 carrying 13,000 bushels of wheat consigned to Buffalo, sourced from Watson & Fox (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
- Incident: A powerful northeast gale struck on 19 September. Attempting to seek refuge, the brig mistook Sheboygan’s light for Milwaukee’s and was driven ashore near Clay Banks (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
- Aftermath: The vessel grounded hard during darkness and rain; anchors were dropped but failed to hold. The brig broke up completely, becoming a total loss along with her cargo .
Final Disposition
- Cause: Grounding during gale; structural failure led to loss
- Vessel Value: US $15,000
- Insured: Cargo insured by Buffalo Mutual; hull insured for US $4,000 by Hope Company of New York (Indiana Government)
- Casualties: One crewman drowned during landing efforts; name unrecorded
Located By & Site Status
Her loss was documented in local Sheboygan newspapers at the time. Contemporary wreck surveys place the remains near Clay Banks, just seaward of the shore. No modern archaeological investigations are known.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
No historic Notices to Mariners issued; the wreck remained visible for days before dispersing.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – Greyhound (1853) (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Milwaukee Sentinel, 28 September 1859 accounts (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Buffalo Daily Courier – 28–29 September 1859 editions
- Buffalo Daily Republic – 26 September 1859 edition
Conclusion
The Greyhound‘s wreck vividly illustrates the dangers of late‑season navigation on Lake Michigan, where sudden northeast gales could prove fatal to even experienced captains. Mistaking lighthouses under poor visibility hastened her demise. Financially, the loss was cushioned by insurance, but personally it remains poignant for the one crew member who drowned. Today, her grounding spot near Sheboygan is remembered as one of several mid‑19th‑century wheat brig disasters on the lake.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Greyhound schooner, brig wreck, wheat cargo, 1859 gale, Sheboygan shipwreck
- Categories: 19th‑century Great Lakes wrecks, wind‑driven losses, grain trade vessels
- Glossary:
- Brig: Two‑masted square‑rigged sailing ship
- Clay Banks: Sandy underwater shoal off Sheboygan
- Grounding: When a ship runs onto the shore or seabed, immobilizing it