Built 1868 – Foundered Oct 21, 1897)

Identification & Site Information

Cargo & Voyage at Loss

  • Cargo: Iron ore, being transported from Escanaba toward Fairport.
  • Voyage Plan: Bound for Fairport after loading ore at Escanaba (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Conclusion & Cause of Loss

  • On October 21, 1897, sailing before a heavy northeast wind, the Gifford sprang a leak and began to take on water (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • With progressive flooding, the crew Abandoned ship, boarding the vessel’s Yawl with essential items (torch, compass, foghorn); after about three hours at sea they were rescued by the Schooner City of Sheboygan and taken to Chicago (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • Remarkably, all crew survived, and the vessel was lost at sea.

Wreck Location & Condition

  • Last known position was 25 miles off Ahnapee, near mid-Lake Michigan, between Point Betsie and Algoma (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).
  • No documented underwater surveys, sonar sweeps, or dive investigations have been conducted; the wreck site remains unlocated.

Significance & Context

  • Emblematic of the Schooner-ore trade of the late 19th century in the Great Lakes, hauling bulk cargo such as iron ore from the Upper Peninsula to Lake Michigan ports.
  • Rapid water ingress under heavy wind conditions highlights the structural vulnerabilities of wooden schooners in adverse weather.
  • Crew survival and rescue by another Schooner showcase the resourcefulness and camaraderie among Great Lakes mariners of the era.

Sources & Archival References

Research Gaps & Recommendations

  • Official Records: Search U.S. Coast Guard or Revenue Cutter logs (1897) for formal abandonment and loss reports.
  • Crew Details: Examine shipping registers and vessel manifests for crew roster and identities.
  • Newspapers: Review October–November 1897 editions of Chicago Tribune, Milwaukee Journal, Door County Advocate for rescue and loss reports.
  • Wreck Survey: If locating the mid-lake site is of interest, propose a sonar and magnetometer sweep between Point Betsie and Algoma.

Conclusion

The Frank W. Gifford fouled her fate on October 21, 1897, when structural failure during a northeast windstorm led to her foundering. While the crew escaped and were safely rescued, the Schooner was lost to the depths of Lake Michigan—offstanding as a testament to the engineered limits of wooden ore schooners and the resilience of Great Lakes mariners at the close of the 19th century.