Identification & Site Information
- Name(s): Milwaukee Belle
- Official Number: 16642
- Year Built: 1854
- Place Built: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Final Location: Off Brevort, Michigan, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 18 November 1886
- Cause of Loss: Dismasted in storm, drifted northeast, sank
- Final Cargo: Lumber
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, two-masted Schooner built for cargo service across the Great Lakes, primarily transporting bulk goods such as lumber and Railroad Iron.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Length: 133.9 ft (40.83 m)
- Beam: 28.4 ft (8.66 m)
- Depth: 9.4 ft (2.87 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 368 6/95 tons
- Decks: 1
- Builder: James M. Jones
- Original Owner: D. Newhall
- Home Port (1884): Chicago, Illinois
History
- 1854: Enrolled in Milwaukee, WI; suffered leakage transporting Railroad Iron; repaired in Cleveland.
- 1856–1860: Experienced multiple collisions and weather-related incidents, including a notable grounding in a gale near Cheboygan, MI, and being salvaged by the Tug Leviathan.
- 1861–1864: Involved in another collision that resulted in the sinking of Schooner Great Western; jettisoned cargo (30 tons of lead) in 1863.
- 1865–1880s: Underwent major repairs including new arches, knees, frame, and decks. Rebuilt in 1871.
- Owners: Transitioned from D. Newhall to Norris & Davis (Chicago), J.D. Gardner (Milwaukee), C.S. Gardner (Chicago), E.E. Ayers (Chicago), and finally Powers (Chicago).
- Collisions: Documented in 1857 (with J.C. Riggs) and 1860 (with C.H. Walker, W.H. Craig, and Arcturus) during dense traffic in the St. Clair River.
- 1886 Loss: Dismasted during a severe storm, drifted northeast, and ultimately sank near Brevort, MI. Gear and rigging were later salvaged.
Final Disposition
The vessel was destroyed in a gale after losing masts, with its wreck going down in Lake Michigan. Salvage crews recovered portions of the rigging and equipment, but the Hull was not raised or reused.
Located By & Date Found
No records found confirming discovery or precise location of wreckage.
NOTMARs & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Buffalo Commercial Advertiser (1857, 1860, 1861) – Incident reports
- Buffalo Daily Republic (1857, 1860) – Collision details
- Buffalo Morning Express (1860) – Collision summary
- U.S. Merchant Vessel Lists (1884) – Tonnage and registration
- Great Lakes Maritime Database – Enrollment and ownership history
Conclusion
The Milwaukee Belle represents a typical mid-19th-century Great Lakes Schooner—built for versatility, often refitted and repurposed, and eventually succumbed to the cumulative effects of age and storm damage. Her career spanned over three decades of active service, making her loss emblematic of the challenges faced by wooden freight vessels on Lake Michigan.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner, wooden Hull, storm loss, Lake Michigan, cargo ship, 19th-century shipwreck, Straits of Mackinac, marine collision, salvage, Great Lakes schooners