Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: St. Ignace
- Type: Wood-hulled scow
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 180 ft (54.86 m); Beam 30 ft; Depth of hold 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 238.14 gross tons
- Location: Approximately 30 miles east of Milwaukee, off Milwaukee County
- Coordinates: ~43° 14.630′ N / 87° 22.934′ W
- Official Number: 57924
- Original Owners: Crosby Transportation Company
- Number of Masts: None; built for towed operation
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wood-hulled scow equipped with a hoisting apparatus and a small cabin.
Description
The St. Ignace functioned as a brick scow, capable of carrying up to 220,000 brick (approx. 1,500–2,000 barrels). It was rigged with onboard hoisting equipment for cargo operations and was built for towed operation, lacking masts and fully dependent on tug support.
History
The St. Ignace was built in 1882 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, under registry number 57924. It was owned by the Crosby Transportation Company.
Significant Incidents
Final Voyage — November 8–9, 1894:
- Departed Grand Haven, Michigan, late on November 8, loaded with brick consigned to C.F. Bertschy, Milwaukee.
- Tow was stern-hauled by tug E. G. Crosby, under Captain W. J. Drumm.
- Solo scow occupant was Frank Leland, sailor aboard St. Ignace.
- A southerly gale struck about 30 miles from Milwaukee, causing a wave to roll the scow sideways, dumping its entire cargo overboard.
- The tow line was intentionally cut to maneuver the safety of the tug.
- Frank Leland was lost at sea; despite search efforts, he was never recovered.
- The tug returned to Milwaukee without cargo or crew member.
Final Disposition
The cargo was lost at sea, unintentionally jettisoned. The hull is likely unmanned and adrift, presumed left to drift or sink, with no known salvage recorded. The last sighting was approximately 30 miles offshore east of Milwaukee, but the exact location is unknown. The wreck status remains unlocated and is presumed to have settled in mid-lake depths or drifted thereafter.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal Notices to Mariners were issued following the incident, as the vessel was unmanned at the time of loss, with cargo already overboard. No hazard warnings were charted after the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”st-ignace-us-57924″ title=”References & Links”]
The scow St. Ignace serves as a clear example of late 19th-century towed freight scows used in heavy cargo transport, underlining the operational dangers of sailing outcompeted by sudden heavy weather. The loss of a single sailor, Frank Leland, amid a full cargo jettison, speaks to the risks inherent for lightly crewed operations in deep water. With no wreck located and minimal archaeological remnants, historical attention centers on labor-risk, unmanned scow operations, and early maritime safety practices.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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