Scow-Schooner Two Katies (a.k.a. Two Kates)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Two Katies (also recorded as Two Kates)
  • Other Names: None
  • Official Number: 24980
  • Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden scow-Schooner, three-masted
  • Builder: Kelly & Roisay, Racine, Wisconsin
  • Year Built & Launched: 1873
  • Specifications: Length: 88 ft (26.8 m) Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m) Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
  • Date Lost: October 18, 1878
  • Location of Loss: Off Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
  • Cause of Loss: Collision with the propeller Waverly during a storm
  • Loss of Life: None reported
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Hardwood lumber

Vessel Description & History

The Two Katies was a three-masted wooden scow-Schooner, built in 1873 in Racine, Wisconsin, by Kelly & Roisay. Scow-schooners were flat-bottomed sailing vessels, widely used on the Great Lakes for transporting lumber, stone, and other bulk cargo.

Designed for short-haul freight operations, she operated out of Racine, Wisconsin, primarily carrying hardwood lumber to various ports around Lake Michigan.

Her last known registration was in April 1877, though she was still listed in the vessel registry in 1879, suggesting she remained active after the incident.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 18, 1878, the Two Katies was sailing in a storm off Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, carrying a full load of hardwood lumber. Amid the rough conditions, she collided with the steam propeller Waverly.

The impact caused her to sink to her decks, leaving only her upper structure and cargo above water. Fortunately, her crew survived by standing on top of the cargo as the Waverly took her in tow.

Despite her damaged state, the Waverly dragged the crippled vessel 15 miles to Bailey’s Harbor, where she was left beached in shallow water with the expectation that she would be raised and salvaged.

Salvage Attempts

A week later, the Schooner Warren arrived to salvage her cargo and rigging. However, the Two Katies was so badly damaged that the salvagers had to tear her decks off to remove the cargo. No further record of salvage or recovery exists, suggesting that her Hull was Abandoned and left to deteriorate.

Final Disposition & Wreck Status

  • Presumed Abandoned in Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin.
  • No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
  • Likely scattered debris or deteriorated beyond recognition.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of wreckage.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Whitefish Bay and Bailey’s Harbor are well-documented shipwreck sites on Lake Michigan, with numerous vessels lost in storms or collisions.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Two Katies was a typical scow-Schooner, designed for short-haul cargo transport along Lake Michigan’s coastline. Her collision with the Waverly during a storm in 1878 left her stranded and beyond repair at Bailey’s Harbor. Though salvage was attempted, the vessel was ultimately Abandoned, and her final fate remains unknown, making her one of the many lost lumber schooners of the Great Lakes.