Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jo Vilas
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Two Rivers and Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 107 × 26 × 9 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 149 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 121 m / 400 ft
- Location: Approximately 30 miles offshore near Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Original Owners: George Wiegland of Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jo Vilas was a wooden schooner primarily used in the lumber trade, capable of carrying significant loads of lumber.
Description
Built in 1857, the Jo Vilas was designed for lumber hauling, with a capacity to carry up to 150,000 board feet. The vessel measured approximately 107 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth.
History
The Jo Vilas had a long service history in the lumber trade before its loss in 1876. It was last owned by George Wiegland of Chicago, who had previously registered the vessel under Manitowoc and Milwaukee flags.
Significant Incidents
- On October 8, 1876, after loading lumber in White Lake, MI, the Jo Vilas departed for Chicago.
- A violent southwest gale developed mid-lake, stressing the schooner’s aging hull and causing leaks.
- The crew battled the inflow with hand pumps for nearly 24 hours, but by October 9 at 08:00 AM, the water overcame the pumps, and she capsized.
- The crew constructed a makeshift raft from floating lumber and were rescued by the passing schooner Andrew Jackson after drifting for approximately 6 hours.
- After abandonment, the Jo Vilas briefly righted before sinking into approximately 400 feet of water, some 30 miles offshore near Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Final Disposition
The Jo Vilas sank in deep water, and its remains are likely a structurally collapsed hull with scattered lumber and hardware. The wreck site is considered deep and remote, lying in approximately 400 feet of water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is estimated to be in a state of structural collapse, with timber likely affected by freezing and waterlogging at such depths. Survey recommendations include remote sensing and confirmation dives using ROVs.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jo-vilas-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The Jo Vilas serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities of aging wooden vessels under storm conditions and highlights the resourcefulness of its crew during their dramatic survival.
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: Jo Vilas
- Built: 1857, launched at Two Rivers and completed at Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Type: Wooden schooner, used primarily in the lumber trade
- Tonnage: ≈149 GRT; dimensions about 107 × 26 × 9 ft
- Built For: Lumber hauling—capable of carrying up to 150,000 board feet above and below deck
- Last Owner: George Wiegland of Chicago (last enrolled there) (Shipwreck World, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Final Voyage & Loss
- After loading lumber in White Lake, MI, she departed on October 8, 1876 for Chicago.
- A violent southwest gale developed mid-lake, stressing the schooner’s aging hull and causing leaks.
- The crew battlied the inflow with hand pumps for nearly 24 hours, but by October 9 at 08:00 AM, the water overcame the pumps, and she capsized (Shipwreck World).
- Crew constructed a makeshift raft from floating lumber, rescued Captain Richard Johnson via thrown rope. They drifted on the raft for approximately 6 hours before being rescued by the passing schooner Andrew Jackson, which had to maneuver five times in the gale to retrieve them (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- After abandonment, Jo Vilas briefly righted before sinking into approximately 400 ft of water, some 30 miles offshore abreast Kenosha, Wisconsin (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Crew & Ownership
- Master: Captain Richard Johnson (survived)
- Crew: Five total; all survived via raft and rescue (Shipwreck World, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Owner: George Wiegland of Chicago, with prior service under Manitowoc and Milwaukee flags (Shipwreck World)
Wreck & Survey Potential
- Estimated Wreck Site: Mid-Lake Michigan—around 30 mi offshore near Kenosha; lies in ~400 ft of water—deep and remote (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Remains: Likely structurally collapsed hull with scattered lumber, fragments, and hardware; freezes and waterlogging of timber common at such depths.
- Survey Recommendations:
- Remote sensing (side-scan sonar, magnetometer) along drift route and loss coordinates.
- Confirmation dives using ROVs to photograph and model any remaining structure.
Archival & Research Needs
- Enrollment Records: Manuscript records from Milwaukee/Manitowoc circa 1857 for hull specifications.
- Ownership Logs: Chicago Customs for Wiegland’s later registration.
- Crew Manifest & Tow Logs: Details on the crew and pumping efforts.
- Weather Data: Lake Michigan meteorological logs for early October 1876.
- Rescue Testimonies: Accounts from Andrew Jackson, including captain’s logs or press interviews.
Historical Significance
- Her long career in the lumber trade and dramatic sinking emphasize structural vulnerabilities in aging wooden vessels under storm stress.
- The crew’s resourceful survival using improvised rafting is a compelling example of Great Lakes seamanship.
- The incident underscores the dangers of late-autumn weather in Lake Michigan and the critical need for robust hull integrity in aged wooden freighters.
Suggested Next Steps
- Initiate archival requests to Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Chicago for enrollment and log records.
- Consult newspapers in Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Chicago for rescue and sinking coverage.
- Plan a remote-sensing exploration south of Kenosha to possibly locate the wreck in deep water.