Vessels Wrecked at Sheboygan
- Steam Propeller
Phoenix
, lost 11/21/1847, built 1845, burden unknown, dimensions (feet) 140.6 x 22.7 x 10.6
-- Burned to her waterline and towed to the old North Pier. Mansfield, History of
the Great Lakes, I:652-653; Heyl, Early American Steamers, I:249-251; Buffalo
Morning Express, 11/29/1847, 11/31/1847, etc.; Sheboygan Herald, 6/5/1897,
6/12/1897, 3/12/1904.
- Schooner E. G. Walcott, lost 11/22/1847, built pre-1846, burden unknown,
dimensions (feet) unknown -- Driven ashore and broken up by gale force winds. Buffalo
Morning Express, 11/21/1847; Mansfield I:902
- Schooner H. Merrill, lost 11/22/1847, built pre-1846, burden unknown, dimensions
(feet) unknown -- Beached at Sheboygan in a gale 11/22/1847. Owner Woodward drowned
trying to get to the beach (Buffalo Morning Express, n.d.). Note that the ship was
raised and rebuilt at Sheboygan in 1848 c Buffalo Morning Express, 5/29/1848.
- Schooner Gallinipper, lost 07/07/1851, built 1846, burden 142, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Capsized off Sheboygan 10 miles southeast by south of Manitowoc. Mansfield
I:662, 828; H. G. Runge m/s 16-17.
- Schooner Abiah, lost 09/00/1854, built 1848, burden 353, dimensions (feet) 134 x
27.2 x 10.6 -- Struck by squall and capsized. Towed to within 15 miles of Sheboygan.
Became wrecked and abandoned. James Jetzer m/s.
- Schooner Equator, lost 05/23/1854, built 1842, burden 132, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Seven miles south of Sheboygan on beach. James Jetzer m/s.
- Schooner Fair Play, lost 11/05/1855, built unknown, burden unknown, dimensions
(feet) unknown -- Capsized north of Kirkland's north pier.
- Schooner Brilliant, lost 12/05/1857, built 1856, burden 182, dimensions (feet)
100 x 26.8 x 7.7 -- Went ashore near Peterson's Pier seven miles south of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Home, lost 10/00/1858, built 1843, burden 127, dimensions (feet) 84.8 x
23.8 x 7.4 -- Sank 13 miles northeast of Sheboygan. (May be 1854 scow schooner Home,
91 gross tons.) H. G. Runge m/s 46-47; Mansfield I:682, 837.
- Schooner Big Z, lost 00/00/1859, built 1844, burden 168, dimensions (feet) 112 x
20 x 8.6 -- Ashore five miles south of Sheboygan.
- Brig Gray Hound, lost 09/19/1859, built 1853, burden 367, dimensions (feet) 130 x
28 x ll -- Ashore opposite Clay Banks one mile south of Kirkland's Pier. Mansfield
I:683, 833; H. G. Runge m/s 48-49.
- Brig Fashion, lost 00/00/1860, built 1846, burden 282, dimensions (feet) unknown
-- In commission in the 1870's.
- Brig Ocean Eagle, lost 10/23/1862, built 1855, burden 281, dimensions (feet) 122
x 25 x 10 -- Struck pier and went to pieces.
- Schooner Fish Hawk, lost 11/00/1865, built 1858, burden 35, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Mansfield 1:704, 825; James Jetzer m/s.
- Scow Schooner Scud, lost 00/00/1865, built pre 1854, burden 32, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- James Jetzer m/s.
- Schooner Magellan Cloud, lost 00/00/l868, built unknown, burden unknown,
dimensions (feet) unknown -- unknown
- Schooner Ruby, lost 00/00/1868, built 1854, burden 118, dimensions (feet) 84.5 x
19.6 x 7.2 -- unknown
- Scow Schooner J. A. Johnson, lost 09/23/1870, built 1867, burden 95, dimensions
(feet) 83 x 22 x 6 -- Sank about eight miles north of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Nora, lost 10/28/1870, built 1869, burden 89, dimensions (feet) 64 x
17.2 x 5.8 -- Collision with Schooner Sweepstakes 16 miles southwest of
Sheboygan. Mansfield I:867; James Jetzer m/s.
- Schooner Adell, lost 11/08/1870, built 1860, burden 19, dimensions (feet) 48 x 12
x 4.7 -- Sprung leak and sank in harbor. H. G. Runge m/s 88-89; Mansfield I-788.
- Schooner San Jacinto, lost 08/00/1871, built 1856, burden 265, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Sunk in harbor. Raised and towed to Milwaukee. Edward Carus m/s; H. G. Runge
m/s 106 107; Mansfield I:720, 884.
- Schooner Union, lost 09/17/1871, built 1867, burden 41, dimensions (feet) 59 x 15
x 6 -- Sunk 25 miles off Sheboygan. Edward Carus m/s; H. G. Runge m/s 106-107;
Mansfield I:895. Vessel raised and recovered.
- Schooner Levant, lost 10/14/1871, built 1854, burden 114, dimensions (feet) 92.1
x 22.5 x 7.7 -- Capsized off Sheboygan. Mansfield I:848; H. G. Runge m/s 108-109;
Edward Carus m/s.
- Barkantine Wenona, lost 11/07/1872, built 1863, burden 230, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Seven miles south of Sheboygan in 14 feet of water. James Jetzer m/s. Vessel
recovered.
- Brigantine Hampton, lost 09/20/1873, built 1845, burden 173, dimensions (feet)
114.9 x 23.3 x 9.1 -- Sank eight miles off Sheboygan. Detroit Free Press,
9/30/1873; James Jetzer.
- Schooner Melrose, lost 10/05/1874, built 1852, burden 204, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Went ashore at South Point.
- Schooner W. F. Allen, Jr., lost 10/25/1875, built 1853, burden 244, dimensions
(feet) 136 x 25.8 x 10.9 -- Ashore five miles south of Sheboygan.
- Schooner John Wallace, lost 04/06/1876, built 1853, burden 57, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- unknown
- Schooner Hattie Taylor, lost 08/26/1880, built 1874, burden 84, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Sunk six miles south southeast of Sheboygan Piers.
- Schooner Hannah Etty, lost 08/26/1880, built 1864, burden 60, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- On beach six miles south of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Jenny, lost 00/00/1880, built 1868, burden 40, dimensions (feet) 75 x 19
x 5 -- unknown
- Schooner Walter B. AIlen, lost 04/17/1880, built 1866, burden 296, dimensions
(feet) 136.8 x 26.2 x ll.l -- Foundered 10 miles northeast of Sheboygan. H. G. Runge
m/s 144-145.
- Schooner E. M. Portch, lost 03/27/1882, built 1867, burden 305, dimensions (feet)
unknown -- Sank south of the South Pier.
- Scow Schooner Nellie Church, lost 10/03/1883, built 1867, burden 123, dimensions
(feet) 99.7 x 24 x 6.3 -- In commission in 1899. Mansfield I:741; Edward Carus m/s; Sheboygan
Times, 10/6/1883, 10/13/1883. Vessel recovered.
- Schooner Petrel, lost 10/17/1883, built 1847, burden 151, dimensions (feet) 79 x
15 x 5 -- Sank opposite Goodrich dock. Recovered, abandoned, blown up with dynamite,
and removed.
- Scow Schooner Ahnapee, lost 06/09/1884, built 1867, burden 118, dimensions (feet)
71 x 213 x 6.3 -- Sank 2½ miles north of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Advance, lost 09/05/1885, built 1853, burden 179, dimensions (feet)
117.3 x 25.7 x 8.9 -- Sank nine miles south of Sheboygan. Mansfield I:745, 789; H. G.
Runge m/s 168-169.
- Schooner Floretta, lost 09/18/1885, built 1867, burden 295, dimensions (feet) 134
x 26 x ll -- Foundered 15 miles north northeast of Sheboygan. Mansfield I:745, 826; H.
G. Runge m/s 168-169.
- Schooner S. Anderson, lost 10/19/1885, built 1874, burden 282, dimensions (feet)
140.8 x 25.3 x 10 -- Edward Carus m/s (believed incorrect; suspect following instead) S.
G. Andrews (1856) two-mast schooner, 116 x 25 x 9 feet, 197 gross tons. "The
schooner S. G. Andrews, ashore at Scott's Point (?), has become a total wreck and
has been abandoned," from Port Huron (MI) Daily Times, 10/23/1885.
- Schooner White Oak, lost 10/19/1885, built 1867, burden 157, dimensions (feet)
111 x 24.8 x 9.5 -- Sunk 5½ miles north. of Sheboygan.
- Scow Schooner Hercules, lost 07/14/1886, built 1854, burden 90, dimensions (feet)
80.5 x 22.7 x 6.5 -- Went ashore at South Point and was stripped.
- Schooner Belle Wallbridge, lost 11/22/1886, built 1857, burden 270, dimensions
(feet) 136.6 x 35.7 x 10.3 -- Struck South Pier and hard ashore. Removed by Government
dredge in 1894.
- Scow Schooner Blue Belle, lost 09/04/1887, built 1869, burden 122, dimensions
(feet) 83 x 25 x 7 -- Hit South Pier and went ashore. Removed by Government dredge in
1894.
- Barge Polynesia, lost 10/23/1887, built 1885, burden 979, dimensions (feet) 204 x
37.2 x 15.6 -- Sunk 20 miles east of Sheboygan. Mansfield I:750, 874; H. G. Runge m/s
176-177; Marquette Daily Mining Journal, 11/26/1887; Port Huron Times,
10/26/1887.
- Schooner Lilly Amiot, lost 11/27/1888, built 1873, burden 25, dimensions (feet)
47.4 x 12.4 x 4.7 -- Carus m/s; James Jetzer m/s.
- Barge Norway, lost 00/00/1889, built 1873, burden 393, dimensions (feet) 161.4 x
33.8 x 8.7 -- James Jetzer m/s.
- Bark Mediterranean, lost 09/20/1891, built 1859, burden 239, dimensions (feet)
123 x 25 x 10 -- Foundered 25 miles off of Sheboygan. Edward Carus m/s; H. G. Runge m/s
194-195; Mansfield I.760 857.
- Schooner Silver Cloud, lost 07/07/1891, built 1869, burden 96, dimensions (feet)
79.4 x 21.9 x 6.3 -- Went ashore north of Port Washington.
- Schooner Lottie
Cooper , lost 04/09/1894, built 1876, burden 252, dimensions (feet) 131 x 27 x 9
-- Capsized and landed on the beach just north of the North Pier.
- Schooner Quickstep, lost 05/13/1895, built 1874, burden unknown, dimensions
(feet) unknown -- Beached in a storm at Sheboygan 5/13/1895, released 6/4/1895 cf. Detroit
Free Press, 5/14/1895; Port Huron Times, 6/5/1895.
- Schooner C. Amsden, lost 00/00/1897, built 1863, burden 184, dimensions (feet)
118.9 x 26 x 8.2 -- Abandoned in river next to Garton Toy Company.
- Schooner Wollin, lost 04/29/1897, built 1854, burden 48, dimensions (feet) 84 x
18 x 5 -- Driven ashore at North Point two miles north. of harbor entrance.
- Schooner Minnehaha, lost 11/07/1898, built 1877, burden 74, dimensions (feet) 75
x 19.8 x 6.8 -- Missed piers and went on beach.
- Scow Schooner Silver Lake, lost 05/18/1899, built 1889, burden 111, dimensions
(feet) 95 x 20 x 7.6 -- Sunk six miles due east of Sheboygan Piers.
- Scow Schooner R. H.
Becker , lost 05/07/1908, built 1867, burden 140, dimensions (feet) 108 x 23 x 7.3
-- Beached off Michigan Avenue, Sheboygan.
- Schooner Grahman Brothers, lost 00/00/1909, built 1874, burden 82, dimensions
(feet) 81 x x 7 -- Abandoned east side of Sheboygan River at foot of Virginia Ave.
- Schooner Conquest, lost 06/00/1899, built 1853, burden 151, dimensions (feet) 110
x 21 x 8 -- Capsized off of North Pier.
- Brig Commerce, lost 11/16/1909, built 1857, burden 327, dimensions (feet) 141.5 x
31.8 x 10.8 -- Burned one mile north of Sheboygan at North point.
- Schooner Challenge, lost 09/10/1910, built 1852, burden 110, dimensions (feet)
85.3 x 22.5 x 6.5 -- Beached 12 miles south of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Lotus, lost 07/04/1915, built 1867, burden 281, dimensions (feet) 136 x
28.6 x 12 -- Burned and put on rocks at North Point.
- Schooner Helvetia, lost 09/10/1921, built 1873, burden 793, dimensions (feet)
204.5 x 35.6 x 13.8 -- Scuttled five miles north northeast of Sheboygan.
- Schooner Our Son, lost 09/26/1930, built 1875, burden 720, dimensions (feet)
182.1 x 35.1 x 13.9 -- Sank 20 miles northeast of Sheboygan.
Note: This list was originally published in the
City of Sheboygan's 1991 "Tidewater Report" and appears here with permission.
It was compiled the the late James Jetzer, a well known diver and marine historian
from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Jetzer was involved in locating a number of Lake Michigan
wrecks and compiled extensive files. After his untimely death, his collection was
indexed and compiled by Pat Labadie of Duluth's Canal Park Museum and is now available to
the public at the Sheboygan Falls Historical Research Center in Sheboygan Falls,
Wisconsin. The collection is quite large and includes files on hundreds of wrecks
from Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron, with emphasis on Wisconsin's Lake Michigan coast.
References are as follows:
Mansfield - Mansfield's History of the Great Lakes
m/s - Milwaukee Sentinel
Edward Carus - Captain Edward Carus' 1931 Wrecklist - Collection at Wisconsin Maritime
Museum
H.G. Runge - Herman Runge Collection at Milwaukee Public Library
James Jetzer - James Jetzer's personal files
Other newspaper microfilms as noted