Year Built: 1867, Cleveland, Ohio
Official Number: 13750
Vessel Type: Wooden Barkentine (later described as a Schooner)
Builder: Quayle & Martin
Original Owner: Capt. Frank Perew, Buffalo, New York
Dimensions: 186.6 ft length × 33.7 ft beam × 13.3 ft depth
Tonnage: 620.52 gross / 589.5 net
Capacity: ~45,000 bushels
Chronology & Operational History
- 1867: Enrolled in Buffalo, New York; named for a Buffalo judge, friend of Capt. Perew.
- 1870 (28 May): Went ashore on Spectacle Reef, Lake Huron; raised and underwent extensive repairs.
- 1871 (12 Sept): Collided with and sank the Maid of the Mist at St. Clair, Michigan.
- 1877 (1 May): Rig converted to a Schooner in Buffalo.
- 1882–1884: Entered coal and ore trades; towed intermittently by Tug J.B. Lyon.
- 1884 (Sep): Broke from tow by prop Keystone on Lake Michigan.
- 1885 (June): Ran aground on South Fox Island, Lake Michigan; sustained heavy damage.
- 1886: Underwent a general Rebuild.
- 1887–1890s: Multiple tows; routes included ore and lumber trades.
- 1893 (15 Oct): Ashore at Racine harbor piers, Wisconsin.
- 1894 (30 Mar): Chartered for lumber trade between Duluth and Bay City.
Final Disposition
- Date of Wreck: 4 December 1897
- Location: Approximately six miles north of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, about 600 ft offshore in the surf zone, Lake Michigan (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wisconsin Shipwrecks, NPGallery)
- Cause: Ran aground during a storm while under tow by steam Barge Keystone; unable to be refloated, became a total wreck despite lifesaving efforts
- Cargo: Soft coal
- Casualties: None reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
Wreck & Dive Notes
- Depth & Condition: The vessel was stranded in shallow surf zone water (approx. 7–10 feet), northeast of Two Rivers harbor (NOAA Institutional Repository)
- Remains: Wreck broken apart and scattered in surf; some remains recorded but no intact Hull expected.
- Accessibility: Potential for shore-based survey or snorkeling in shallow water; strong wave action likely dispersed debris.
Research Recommendations
- Newspaper Archives (Dec 1897):
- Manitowoc Herald-Times, Two Rivers Reporter, and Milwaukee Sentinel for grounding details, weather conditions, and salvage efforts.
- U.S. Life-Saving Service Logs:
- Records from the Two Rivers station may detail rescues, survivor accounts, or salvage coordination.
- Tow and Marine Lloyd Logs:
- Keystone tow logs could reveal timeline, weather reports, crew lists, and attempts at salvage.
- Underwriter Records:
- Reports from Board of Lake Underwriters on coal cargo loss and vessel write-off details.
- Local Historical Societies:
- Records held by the Manitowoc County Historical Society or Wisconsin Maritime Museum may include photos, maps, or eyewitness accounts.
Sources
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks site: Verified grounding details, location, surf depth (~7–10 ft water), and total wreck status (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, NOAA Institutional Repository, Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (WordPress): Confirms sinking date, cargo (soft coal), no lives lost, and wreck recognized as storm-related (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- NOAA Sanctuary PDF: Notes the wreck lies northeast of Two Rivers harbor entrance at shallow depth (NOAA Institutional Repository)
Summary
Joseph G. Masten, a substantial 620‑ton Barkentine built in 1867, had a storied career including multiple groundings and rebuilds. Her final fate occurred on December 4, 1897, when she ran aground and wrecked during a storm six miles north of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. The wreck, now in shallow surf, remains accessible for historical documentation, though only debris survives. Further research in local maritime logs, newspapers, and life-saving records could illuminate final voyage details, cargo valuation, and crew experiences.