(Wooden Schooner, built ~1853; wrecked ~Nov 16, 1853)
Vessel Identity & Details
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Built: Circa 1853, likely on the Great Lakes
- Registered From: Buffalo, New York
- Cargo at Loss: Pig iron, coal, merchandise (unspecified)
- Final Voyage & Sinking
- Route: Departed Buffalo, bound for Milwaukee and Racine
- Event Date: November 16, 1853 (recorded in Great Lakes Shipwreck Files under November storm losses)
- Cause: Struck a rocky shoal near the southern part of Lake Michigan during a gale or heavy weather conditions
- Outcome: Declared a total wreck; vessel broke apart on the shoal
- Casualties: None reported—crew was rescued and safely reached shore (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, archives.gov, trove.nla.gov.au, baillod.com)
Incident Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Wooden schooner |
| Built | c. 1853 |
| Route | Buffalo → Milwaukee/Racine |
| Cargo | Pig iron, coal, general merchandise |
| Event Date | Nov 16, 1853 |
| Cause | Grounded on rocky shoal in rough conditions |
| Casualties | None |
| Wreck Condition | Broke up; vessel declared total loss |
Suggested Further Research
- Contemporary newspaper search (Nov 1853)
- Buffalo Courier, Milwaukee Sentinel, Racine Advocate: for grounding reports, crew interviews, cargo loss, and weather conditions.
- Shipping & registry files
- Enrollment data from Buffalo’s port authority confirming build details, ownership history, and cargo manifests.
- Hydrographic charts & shoal mapping
- Mid-19th century Lake Michigan charts to identify rocky shoal location; helps for historical and dive mapping.
- Marine insurance & salvage records
- Insight into financial implications, partial salvage (pig iron or coal), and official wreck abandonment procedures.
- Searching November 1853 newspapers for detailed accounts?
- Accessing Buffalo port registry and enrollment logs?
- Pulling hydrographic maps from the period for site localization?
- Looking up insurance or salvage documentation related to this wreck?