Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Velocipede
- Type: wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: J. Dickie at Menominee, Michigan
- Dimensions: ~40 × 11 × 4 ft; tonnage ~10 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 10 GRT
- Location: Approximately 8 mi east-southeast of Kenosha Harbor
- Official Number: 25848
- Number of Masts: two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden scow-schooner combining elements of scow flat-bottom and schooner rig, commonly used for lake transportation of bulk goods. At loss, she carried no cargo (“light”), making her vulnerable to wind and waves.
Description
The Velocipede departed Racine under calm conditions but was soon hit by a sudden storm. The vessel was overwhelmed and broke amidships, with the hull splitting and decks washed away. Her remains were found a week later, heavily damaged, with no crew survivors. Wreckage was identified several miles offshore and reportedly towed to Kenosha, where she was left abandoned.
History
All hands were lost; eyewitness accounts reported no lifeboats onboard, consistent with larger scow-schooner practices. None of the crew were ever recovered, indicating sudden and catastrophic failure.
Significant Incidents
- Final Departure: April 26, 1877 from Racine, Wisconsin, bound for Muskegon, Michigan in ballast.
- Last Known Position: Caught in a severe spring squall shortly after departure; presumed foundered on April 27, 1877 on Lake Michigan.
Final Disposition
The Velocipede was considered a total constructive loss. Remnants were towed into Kenosha and abandoned. The wreck remains unlocated, and the exact site is unknown, with debris observable only in contemporary wreck reports.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck remains unlocated, but archival clues and modeled drift path could guide search efforts. This case offers a poignant example of small-boat vulnerability and the hidden losses of Great Lakes maritime history.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”velocipede-us-25848″ title=”References & Links”]
The Velocipede was a modest but resilient scow-schooner lost suddenly to a spring gale on Lake Michigan. Her breakup amidships and total loss—with no survivors—reflects the danger of under-rigged vessels in sudden squalls.
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.
(wooden scow‑schooner, built 1869)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Velocipede
- Official No.: 25848
- Built: 1869 by J. Dickie at Menominee, Michigan as a sloop; later rigged as a two-masted scow‑schooner
- Dimensions: ~40 × 11 × 4 ft; tonnage ~10 GRT
- Final Departure: April 26, 1877 from Racine, Wisconsin, bound for Muskegon, Michigan in ballast
- Last Known Position: Caught in a severe spring squall shortly after departure; presumed foundered on April 27, 1877 on Lake Michigan
- Wreck Location: Approximately 8 mi east‑southeast of Kenosha Harbor; remains discovered floating and later washed ashore or scuttled (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
Vessel Type
A small wooden scow‑schooner combining elements of scow flat‐bottom and schooner rig, commonly used for lake transportation of bulk goods. At loss, she carried no cargo (“light”), making her vulnerable to wind and waves (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Incident Summary
The Velocipede departed Racine under calm conditions but was soon hit by a sudden storm. The vessel was overwhelmed and broke amidships, with the hull splitting and decks washed away. Her remains were found a week later, heavily damaged, with no crew survivors. Wreckage was identified several miles offshore and reportedly towed to Kenosha, where she was left abandoned (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Crew & Casualties
All hands were lost; eyewitness accounts reported no lifeboats onboard, consistent with larger scow‑schooner practices. None of the crew were ever recovered, indicating sudden and catastrophic failure (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
The Velocipede was considered a total constructive loss. Remnants were towed into Kenosha and abandoned. The wreck remains unlocated, and the exact site is unknown, with debris observable only in contemporary wreck reports.
Archival Gaps & Research Opportunities
- Crew list & logbooks: Not found; may exist in Racine harbor records or 1877 newspapers (Racine Journal, Kenosha Telegraph).
- Towing records: Indicate post-storm salvage in Kenosha docks; search Kenosha News archives from early May 1877.
- Storm logs: Weather data from April 26–28, 1877, may help pinpoint storm track and likely sinking zone.
- Wreck site investigation: Deep sonar survey east of Kenosha Harbor could help locate debris field; possible artifact scatter along shore.
Conclusion
The Velocipede was a modest but resilient scow‑schooner lost suddenly to a spring gale on Lake Michigan. Her breakup amidships and total loss—with no survivors—reflects the danger of under-rigged vessels in sudden squalls. The wreck remains unlocated, but archival clues and modeled drift path could guide search efforts. This case offers a poignant example of small-boat vulnerability and the hidden losses of Great Lakes maritime history.
velocipede-us-25848 1877-04-26 13:22:00