Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Midge (1866)

Explore the wreck of the Midge, a small schooner lost in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1883. A significant case of anchorage failure.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Midge
  • Type: Small wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Builder: Likely in Racine, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage: 40 tons
  • Location: Mouth of the Milwaukee River
  • Original Owners: Racine, Wisconsin

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Small wooden schooner

Description

The Midge was a small wooden schooner built in 1866, likely in Racine, Wisconsin. She was registered in Racine and primarily carried cargo, including 40 tons of timber slabs.

History

On May 9, 1883, the Midge was on a voyage to Milwaukee when she encountered a sudden squall. To weather the storm, she anchored near the entrance to Milwaukee Harbor. Unfortunately, her anchor failed to hold, and she dragged anchor for about two days and nights in rough seas before being washed ashore at the mouth of the Milwaukee River, waterlogged and extensively damaged. The vessel was declared a total loss, but fortunately, no crew members were lost during the incident.

Significant Incidents

  • A textbook case illustrating the failure of anchorage in severe spring squalls on Lake Michigan.
  • The loss of 40 tons of slab lumber underscores both economic costs and common trade goods of the era.

Final Disposition

The Midge was ultimately declared a total loss after being washed ashore. The wreck likely faced dismantling or was washed back out to sea, as no records of salvage exist.

Current Condition & Accessibility

A shallow-water survey near the Milwaukee River mouth might uncover timbers or debris field remnants from the Midge, but current conditions of the wreck site are unknown.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”midge-1866″ title=”References & Links”]

The Midge, a small Racine schooner carrying 40 tons of slab timber, was lost during a late spring squall off Milwaukee on May 9, 1883. Her anchors failed, and she was ultimately wrecked ashore, a complete loss. No lives were lost, but her fate exemplifies the dangers small cargo vessels faced in early-season storms on Lake Michigan.

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.

Built 1866 – Wrecked May 9, 1883

Identification & Vessel Overview

  • Type: Small wooden schooner
  • Built: 1866, likely in Racine, Wisconsin
  • Cargo: 40 tons of timber slabs
  • Registered Port: Racine, Wisconsin

Final Voyage & Loss Details

  • Date and Route: In late-season May 9, 1883, Midge was attempting to reach Milwaukee when caught in a sudden squall
  • Action Taken: She anchored near the entrance to Milwaukee Harbor to weather the storm
  • What Happened: Her anchor failed to hold; she dragged anchor, dragging for about two days and nights in rough seas
  • Fate: Eventually washed ashore at the mouth of the Milwaukee River, waterlogged and extensively damaged
  • Outcome: Declared a total loss. No crew lost

Aftermath & Significance

  • A textbook case illustrating the failure of anchorage in severe spring squalls on Lake Michigan
  • The loss of 40 tons of slab lumber underscores both economic costs and common trade goods of the era

Historical Context

  • The late spring of 1883 featured several similar losses of small schooners near Milwaukee, indicating a pattern of storms early in the navigation season
  • Midge’s demise highlights the vulnerability of sparsely manned small vessels laden with dense cargo in open-water anchorage

Source

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“Midge”) — Technical details, anchorage failure, cargo info, and wreck status

Research Gaps & Next Actions

  • Crew & Master: The identity of the onboard crew and captain remains unknown — check Racine registers or harbor logs
  • Newspaper Reports: Examine May 1883 issues of the Milwaukee Sentinel or Racine Journal for eyewitness accounts or weather analyses
  • Salvage Record: No records exist of salvage; wreck likely dismantled or washed back out—archival marine salvage files could clarify
  • Site Survey: A shallow-water survey near the Milwaukee River mouth might uncover timbers or debris field remnants

Conclusion

The Midge, a small Racine schooner carrying 40 tons of slab timber, was lost during a late spring squall off Milwaukee on May 9, 1883. Her anchors failed, and she was ultimately wrecked ashore, a complete loss. No lives were lost, but her fate exemplifies the dangers small cargo vessels faced in early-season storms on Lake Michigan.

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