C.G. MIXER (Built 1867)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: C.G. Mixer
  • Built: 1867, Hudson, New York
  • Hull Number: — (wooden Schooner)
  • Dimensions: Length 39.6 m (130 ft); Beam 7.9 m (26 ft); Tonnage ~294 tons
  • Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
  • Owner/Captain: Captain Henry Ahebahs
  • Date Lost: 18 May 1894
  • Lake: Michigan (Chicago shoreline)
  • Loss Location: Driven ashore off 27th Street, north of downtown Chicago
  • Cargo: Railroad ties
  • Crew: Six or seven onboard; all rescued (one fatality in similar storm incidents, but this account reports no deaths) (chicagology.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Vessel Type

A large mid-19th-century wooden Schooner, designed for bulk freight (notably timber, ties, coal) on the Great Lakes, using sail power exclusively.

Description

A robust wooden Hull with dual-mast Schooner rigging. With nearly 130 ft of length and a 26 ft beam, she carried heavy cargo. Her cargo hold and Deck were built to accommodate dense, rugged freight like railroad ties.

History

Constructed in 1867 at Hudson, New York, C.G. Mixer served Chicago-based freight routes. On 18 May 1894, amid a violent Lake Michigan storm, she was caught near Chicago’s north shore. Blown ashore off 27th Street, the ship was overwhelmed, with her cargo pulverising the Hull. The Chicago South life-saving crew rescued all on board, affirming the crew’s survival despite the wreck .

Final Disposition

The Schooner was battered to pieces quickly against the beach, declared a Total Loss. Both ship and cargo were unrecoverable and Abandoned.

Located By & Date Found

Initial wrecking occurred at the time of the loss. The debris was likely removed shortly after by municipal crews; there is no known memorial or archaeological remnant.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No official Notices to Mariners were issued. The incident was localized to the shoreline and posed no long-term navigational hazards.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The C.G. Mixer illustrates the peril wooden lake schooners faced battling sudden Great Lakes storms. Laden with heavy railroad ties, she was driven ashore in 1894, her Hull destroyed by the shifting mass of cargo. Her intact crew rescue highlights the effectiveness of Chicago life-saving services. Today, her presence survives only in local historical accounts.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Wooden Schooner, Lake Michigan, storm wreck, 1894, railroad ties, Chicago north shore, Captain Henry Ahebahs, life-saving rescue, bulk cargo disaster.