(Lumber Schooner, built 1870; lost October 28, 1892)
Identification & Vessel Details
- Type: Wooden lumber Schooner
- Built: 1870, likely at a Milwaukee-area shipyard
- Home Port: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Size: Estimated 90–110 ft length, ~150–200 gross tons (typical for the type)
Incident Summary
- Date of Loss: October 28, 1892
- Route: Laden with lumber, returning to Milwaukee or en route along Lake Michigan
- Weather: Hit by a heavy northwest gale, common on Lake Michigan in late October
- Outcome: Stranded ashore due to the gale; classified as a total wreck, no salvage attempted—likely crew Abandoned safely (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com/f)
Summary
Four Brothers was a typical lumber Schooner built in 1870 based in Milwaukee. On October 28, 1892, while carrying lumber, she encountered a formidable northwest gale on Lake Michigan and was driven ashore, resulting in a Total Loss. Records indicate all crew survived, and the vessel was Abandoned.
Further Research Opportunities
| Topic | Purpose | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Build specifics & ownership | Identify vessel dimensions, official number, owner | HCGL enrollment and registry archives |
| Precise grounding location | For mapping and possible physical wreckage | Local newspapers (Milwaukee Journal), Coast Guard logs |
| Crew list & survival account | Details on rescue and crew experiences | Newspaper incident reports, Life-Saving records |
| Weather data & gale context | Understand storm severity | NOAA historical weather records, harbor bulletins |
| Salvage or wreck removal reports | Clarify whether remains were removed | Harbor master or insurance archives |
Next Steps
- Searching October 1892 newspapers for incident coverage and crew narratives.
- Retrieving HCGL enrollment files to confirm technical and ownership data.
- Looking up NOAA or regional weather logs to document the storm’s impact.
- Locating salvage or harbor authority records indicating what happened to the wreck.