Vessel Overview

  • Name(s): Planet (1855–1882); renamed John C. Bauer (1882–1900)
  • Official Number: 54159 (note: some records indicate 54149, but primary registry confirms 54159) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Year Built: 1855
  • Built At: Black River, Ohio (builder: D. Fox)
  • Type: Scow‑Schooner (wooden, two‑masted, flat‑bottomed)
  • Dimensions:

Operational Chronology

  • 1855: Enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio as Planet
  • 1858: Grounded south of Milwaukee piers; later released
  • 1860–1899: Frequent ownership changes, ports of registry in Ohio and Wisconsin, reconstruction in 1869; renamed John C. Bauer in 1882 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • 1900: Under ownership of Thomas Thompson, Milwaukee; en route from Milwaukee to Cecil Bay (Straits of Mackinac) when the incident occurred (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Incident & Loss

  • Date of Loss: 6 July 1900
  • Location: South Fox Island Harbor, Lake Michigan
  • Circumstances: Stranded and wrecked in dense fog; crew Abandoned ship, and no loss of life was reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Aftermath: Vessel declared a Total Loss. Crew rescued by local fishing boat; Hull later towed clear of harbor 

Wreck Site & Dive Potential

  • Position: Presumed close to the southwest harbor of South Fox Island, Michigan
  • Condition: As a wooden scow-Schooner stranded in shallow harbor, little remains likely; structure possibly broken and dispersed
  • Accessibility: Potentially accessible at low water with surf or seasonal exposure; no official dive surveys known

Historical Significance

The Planet/ John C. Bauer exemplifies durable mid‑19th‑century coastal workboats, serving in the lumber and stone trades for nearly half a century. Her renaming and Rebuild in 1882 illustrate adaptive reuse common among scow‑schooners. Her loss in 1900 underscores navigational hazards faced by such vessels—especially those relying on sail and limited navigation aids in fog and confined waters.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Michigan, South Fox Island
  • Vessel Type: Wooden scow‑Schooner
  • Cause of Loss: Stranding (fog-driven)
  • Cargo Type: Light/lumber — unconfirmed at time of wreck
  • Casualties: None
  • Era: 1855–1900
  • Dive Risk: Minimal; potential for surface or shoreline remains