Shotline Diving

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Kearsarge US 14042

Explore the wreck of the Kearsarge, a wooden schooner that capsized in 1880 after striking Racine Reef. All crew members were rescued.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Kearsarge
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1864
  • Builder: John Oades, Clayton, New York
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 198 tons (old measurement), 153 GRT
  • Location: Racine Reef, Lake Michigan
  • Coordinates: Approximately 3 miles offshore
  • Official Number: 14042
  • Original Owners: Fowler & Esseltyne (1864); Detroit interests (1867–68); H. Channon (1871–74); J. Kemmer, Chicago (1876–1880)
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden, single-deck schooner.

Description

The Kearsarge was a wooden schooner built in 1864. It had a registered tonnage of 198 tons (old measurement) and 153 gross registered tons (GRT). The vessel was primarily used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes.

History

The Kearsarge had a notable service history, including a significant grounding in August 1873 in Good Harbor Bay, Michigan, while en route to Chicago. After repairs, it returned to service in 1874. The vessel changed ownership several times, reflecting the interests of various stakeholders in the Great Lakes shipping industry.

Significant Incidents

  • August 1873: Stranded in Good Harbor Bay, Michigan, while en route to Chicago; subsequently repaired and returned to service in 1874.

Final Disposition

On October 12, 1880, the Kearsarge struck Racine Reef approximately three miles offshore in dense fog. Laden with hardwood, the vessel ran aground around 10 PM. A northeast storm arose, filling the hull with water and capsizing the vessel after gear was removed. The crew of seven was rescued by the U.S. Life-Saving Service from Racine. The tug Holdon righted the capsized hull and towed it to Milwaukee harbor. However, efforts to fully correct her position failed, and she was ultimately abandoned on a Milwaukee beach, where ongoing seas broke her up. Final paperwork marked her as a “Total Wreck” on December 15, 1880.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Kearsarge is confirmed, but its current condition is not detailed in the sources. It was abandoned on a Milwaukee beach, where it was subject to natural deterioration.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”kearsarge-us-14042″ title=”References & Links”]

The Kearsarge had a long career on the Great Lakes, surviving a major grounding in 1873. Her final voyage ended in 1880 when she capsized after striking Racine Reef amid fog and storm winds. Remarkably, all seven crew members survived the incident.

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.

(1864–1880)

  • Official No.: 14042
  • Built: 1864 by John Oades, Clayton, New York
  • Hull: Wooden, single-deck schooner; 198 tons (old measurement), 153 GRT
  • Owners: Fowler & Esseltyne (1864); Detroit interests (1867–68); H. Channon (1871–74); J. Kemmer, Chicago (1876–1880) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Service History & Earlier Wreck

  • August 1873: Stranded in Good Harbor Bay, Michigan, while en route to Chicago—subsequently repaired and returned to service in 1874 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Final Voyage & Wreck (Oct 1880)

  • Date: Monday, October 12, 1880
  • Location: Struck Racine Reef (~3 miles offshore), Lake Michigan, in dense fog (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Conditions: Laden with hardwood—ran aground at ~10 pm; a northeast storm then arose, filling the hull with water and capsizing the vessel after gear was removed (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Rescue: Crew of seven were saved by the U.S. Life-Saving Service from Racine (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Recovery & Abandonment

  • Tug Holdon (also spelled “Hoton”) righted the capsized hull and towed it to Milwaukee harbor (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Efforts with scow Monitor to fully correct her position failed; she was ultimately abandoned on a Milwaukee beach, where ongoing seas broke her up—final paperwork marked as “Total Wreck” on December 15, 1880 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Archival Sources

  • Wisconsin Shipwrecks database: Extensive build, ownership, incidents, rescue reports, and wreck chronology (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (K‑list): Concise summary of grounding, capsizing, towing, and abandonment (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • U.S. Life-Saving Service & Rescue Actions: Confirmed crew rescue and vessel capsizing during towing (wuaa.org)

Summary

The Kearsarge had a long Great Lakes career and survived a major grounding in 1873. Her final voyage ended in 1880—drawn onto Racine Reef amid fog, capsized by storm winds, and ultimately towed upside-down to Milwaukee for abandonment. Remarkably, all seven crew members survived.

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