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.
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
- Vessel Type: Wood-hulled scow equipped with a hoisting apparatus and a small cabin
- Built: 1882 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, under registry number 57924
- Dimensions: 180 ft long × 30 ft beam × 8 ft depth of hold; 238.14 gross tons
- Owner: Crosby Transportation Company
- Location of Incident: Lake Michigan, approximately 30 miles east of Milwaukee, off Milwaukee County
- Coordinates of last sighting: ~43° 14.630′ N / 87° 22.934′ W (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Vessel Description & Use
- Functioned as a brick scow, capable of carrying up to 220,000 brick (approx. 1,500–2,000 barrels)
- Rigged with onboard hoisting equipment for cargo operations
- Built for towed operation; lacked masts, fully dependent on tug support (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Final Voyage — November 8–9, 1894
- Departed: Grand Haven, Michigan, late on November 8, loaded with brick consigned to C.F. Bertschy, Milwaukee
- Tow: Stern-hauled by tug E. G. Crosby, under Captain W. J. Drumm
- Crew: Solo scow occupant—Frank Leland, sailor aboard St. Ignace
- Incident:
- A southerly gale struck about 30 miles from Milwaukee
- A wave rolled the scow sideways, dumping its entire cargo overboard
- The tow line was intentionally cut to maneuver crawl safety of the tug
- Frank Leland was lost at sea; despite search efforts, he was never recovered
- Tug returned to Milwaukee without cargo or crew member (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Values:
- Brick cargo valued at approximately $1,500, uninsurable
- Scow valued around $2,500, also uninsured (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Casualties & Memorials
- Lives Lost: 1 — Frank Leland, sole occupant of the scow, presumed drowned
- Crew Rescue: None, since only one sailor was aboard
- Memorials: No formal memorial documented; possible local press coverage in Milwaukee or Grand Haven archives (Nov 1894) (wuaa.org, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Salvage & Wreck Status
- Cargo: Lost at sea; unintentionally jettisoned
- Hull: Likely unmanned and adrift, presumed left to drift or sink—no known salvage recorded
- Site: Last seen ~30 miles offshore east of Milwaukee; exact location unknown
- Remark: Wreck status remains unlocated; presumed settled in mid-lake depths or drifted thereafter (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Notmars & Advisories
- No formal Notices to Mariners issued; vessel was unmanned at time of loss, with cargo already overboard
- No hazard warnings charted following the incident
Resources & Archives
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database entry on St. Ignace with full vessel specs and incident summary (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- WUAA (Wisconsin Underwater Archaeological Association) newsletter referencing the loss and lone casualty Frank Leland (wuaa.org)
Conclusion
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.
Keywords / Categories
Region: Lake Michigan – Milwaukee County
Type: Wood scow / brick lighter
Cause of loss: Storm-induced capsizing → cargo dumping → abandonment
Period: 1882–1894
Casualty: 1 (unrecovered)
Dive potential: None—site unknown and likely deep-lake
Recommended Further Research
- Search 1894 newspaper archives (Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Haven papers) for any additional mention of Frank Leland, salvage efforts, or local inquiries.
- Examine Crosby Transportation Co. company logs or insurance ledgers for further documentation of St. Ignace operations or incident aftermath.
- Consult Coast Guard or U.S. Life-Saving Service annual reports for possible rescue/drowning registry or record.