Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

MILWAUKEE MARINE AND SHIPPING
SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS

The following ships were listed in various sources, newspapers 
and publications as having a Milwaukee connection.
This list includes information collected by David D. Swayze, Lake Isabella, MI

WAUCOMA

Specs: 188x26x13, 361t also 438t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: yr 1876
Place of Loss: Atlantic Coast
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause: sunk/lost
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: enroute to Scotland
Detroit Tribune, 27 Dec, 1876

SAVED AND SALVAGE GAINED. - Capt. J. C. Gibney, in September last, left Detroit in command of the brigantine Waucoma, on a voyage across the ocean. While at sea he fell in with what might be termed an abandoned vessel, succeeded in navigating her into port, thereby becoming entitled to a round sum in salvage. An Irish paper of a recent date has the following particulars:

On the 14th of November his attention was attracted to the schooner by her wild steering; sometimes she would be off the wind, and at other times she would be close hauled, and from her movements it appeared that there was no one on board the vessel, and that she must be abandoned. He hove down on her, and when within about four or five miles of the vessel he discovered she had signals of distress flying. He then ran within hailing distance of her and inquired of one of the men on board what was the matter, to which he received the answer that they were in distress, and required assistance. Capt. Gibney then lowered his boat and went on board, and found her to be the schr Elizabeth Hamilton, 160 tons, of Plymouth. After some conversation with the men and at their earnest solicitation, he consented to take charge of the vessel and navigate her to a port of safety. He then took with him one of his own seamen to assist, together with a compass and provisions, after which he directed his chief officer to proceed in charge of his own vessel - the Waucoma - to Glasgow. He then set all available sail on board the Elizabeth Hamilton, and she shaped a course for Queenstown. On the 18th inst. he put into Baltimore harbor at 6:30, where he moored the vessel.

WEE JOHN

Specs: 199t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: 1897 dropped from registry

WENONA

Size: 30t
Owner: William Brown
1837 Schooner WENONA went ashore in the bay.(from History of Milwaukee County 1881)

1841 In a November gale, the schooners HENRY NORTON, MEEMEE, and WENONA, and the sloop BLACK HAWK were driven ashore at Milwaukee. (Source History of Milwaukee County 1881)

WESTMORELAND

Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec 1853

The Milwaukee Sentinel says that the propeller WESTMORELAND has hauled alongside the wharf in the river where she will lay up for the winter. The damage to her machinery is supposed to be $1000 to $1500.

WILLIAM GOODNOW

Specs: 120x20x12, 171g 141 n
Enrollment: Cleveland
Date of Loss: 1869, Jun 14 (or Jul 16)
Place of Loss: off Lexington, MI
Lake Lost: Huron
Type/Cause: collision
Lives Lost: 2
Cargo: none
Details: While lying to and waiting for a tow in the dark, she was rammed by the bark SUNNYSIDE and sunk in 13 fathoms. She went down in 15 minutes, but the bark was able to save her crew. Later recovered by the steamer T.F. PARK, gone from registry by 1894. Rebuilt 1879

Detroit Free Press December 22. 1866
NEW VESSELS COMMISSIONED IN 1866, AND WHERE BUILT Tug Wm. Goodnow, at Milwaukee, large class.

WILLIAM H. WOLF

Specs: 285x42x19, 2266g 1791n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: 1921, Oct 20
Place of Loss: abreast of Marine City, MI
Lake Lost: St Clair R
Type/Cause: fire
Lives Lost: 2
Cargo: light
Details: She caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank on the edge of the channel. The wreck was removed and resunk at another location in 1925. Bound Port Huron for Toledo. Several spectator were drowned when she swamped during her launch. Accident also Sept 18, 1921, sprung leak in gale on Lake Superior and sank at entrance of Portage Waterway, with coal. Raised and repaired and loaded pulpwood.

WILLIAM JONES

Specs: 154t
Enrollment: Chicago
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

WING & WING

Other names : none
Official no. : none
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1845, Sanford & Moses, Cleveland
Specs : 106x24x9, 217 t.
Date of loss : 1854, Dec 4
Place of loss : at Michigan City, Ind.
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : She went ashore in a bizzard and became a total loss. Owned by Richmond & Co., Detroit

W.J. CARTER

Specs: 122x28x10 317gc 170nc
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Chicago
Date of Loss: 1923, Jul 28
Place of Loss: 20 mi S of Point Petre, Ont.
Lake Lost: Ontario
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: coal
Details: She sprang a leak in a gale and foundered. Bound Oswego to Cobourg, Ont. Her crew was later rescued from their lifeboat, by the propeller KEYPORT.. Damaged when she went ashore on Yorkshire Isl, Lake Ont., in 1919. Sold Canadian in 1920-1923.

W.J. WHALING

Specs: 243t (also reported at 374t in 1864)
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Oswego and Chicago
Owner: Bell & Whaling
Date of Loss: 1873, Sept 25
Place of Loss: near Grand Haven, Mich
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: 1
Cargo 3,000 bbl salt
Details: She came to anchor off Grand Haven and dragged ashore in a gale. At first it was thought she could be escued, but she was later given up as lost.

W.K. MUIR

Specs: 66t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:
Detroit Free Press, 20 Sep, 1867 , page 1
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
_________
Explosion of the Tug W. K. Muir.
_________
Seven Lives Lost - All the Crew Killed or Wounded
_________
Particulars by Telegraph
_________
Special telegrams received at the office of THE FREE PRESS yesterday from Port Huron, announced the terrible explosion of the boiler of the tug W. K. Muir, in the river just below that city at a late hour on the night previous, by which seven persons on board were suddenly hurled into eternity, and the five others composing her crew were severely, and some of them it is feared, fatally injured. It seems that the tug, which was considered one of the best in the service, owned by Capt. John Pridgeon of this city, and commanded by a brother of the owner, another brother being first officer, had just taken up a tow consisting of the bark City of Buffalo and another vessel, name not known, and was proceeding down the river. When about a half a mile below the city of Port Huron, a startling and stunning report was heard, and as quick as thought followed the fearful cry and conviction that the tug had burst her boiler. The tug Red Eric immediately went to the scene and there, among the floating fragments of the wreck, the most of which had disappeared beneath the waves, picked up all that were left of the crew, five poor mangled and scalded persons; the others, including the captain, mate, 1st engineer, the clerk, cook and two firemen, were all gone, ushered into the presence of their maker without a note of warning, or an instant of preparation. The first special dispatch referred to is as follows:

Port Huron, Sept. 19, 8:45 a. m.

A terrible explosion occurred half a mile below here about ten o'clock last night. The tug W. K. Muir had picked up a tow and started down the river, when her boiler exploded, killing Captain Robert Pridgeon, Elijah Pridgeon, Bampton, the first engineer, two firemen and the cook; five are wounded, one seriously. Capt. Wm. O'Neil, of the tug Red Eric, went to the rescue of the wounded, who are now being kindly taken care of at the Larned House. None of the drowned have been recovered. The tug is a total wreck. No Particulars as to the cause of the explosion. T. J. C.

Capt. John Pridgeon left for the scene immediately upon receipt of the appalling announcement to him trebly terrible, to ascertain the true facts of the case, and to aid the remaining sufferers, who, it will have been seen, were properly and kindly cared for by the people in the vicinity.

The unfortunate captain and mate, Robert and Elijah Pridgeon, were well known, and had for a long time been connected with the boat. They were both married, and leave families in this city. The engineer had served for some years in the subordinate station, and had just been promoted to the first place in that service. Of the others killed but little is known at present, they being for the most part recently attached to the boat. Only surmises as to the cause of the catastrophe can be indulged in; it comes almost like the sudden crash of an unseen irresistible fate. It comes with a suddenness, and the appalling consequences with which death often loves to deal - who, like other tyrants,

" -- delights to smite what, smitten most proclaims the pride of
power and arbitrary nod."

For what more arbitrary than the irrevocable decree whose execution works such ruin, terror and dismay!

The officers of the steamer Reindeer, which came down yesterday, report the river filled with the floating fragments for a long distance. The explosion must, evidently, have been of terrific force, and it is thought that the boiler must have shot forward and upward, throwing the deck of the boat completely over to the rear.

The following is a

LATER DISPATCH

Those drowned by the explosion of the tug W. K. Muir were Rob't Pridgeon, Captain; Elijah Pridgeon, mate; John Kirchean, 1st engineer; Wm. Bampton, clerk and lookout; Charlie, the cook; Jim and John, firemen; the surnames of the three latter unknown. The wounded are Thos. Daniels, of Buffalo, face seriously scalded and bruised; Walter Cartwright, spine severely injured; Oscar Cartwright, wheelsman, foot and back injured; Michael McQueeny, slightly in foot; James Scofield, 2nd engineer, feet scalded. No insurance on tug. None of the killed have been found yet. T.J.C.

Notes: The bodies of the captain and four others were recovered several miles downstream a few days later. The tug was later raised and rebuilt.

Detroit Free Press, December 20, 1867 Tug W. K. Muir, damaged by fire at Milwaukee.

WOLLIN

Specs: 84x19x5, 49g 46n
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Detroit, Chicago
Owner: Mr. Wootsch
Date of Loss: 1897, Apr 29
Place of Loss: 2 mi N of Sheboygan, WI
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: wood, potatoes
Details: The old schooner was driven ashore and wrecked in a heavy gale. The Lifesaving Service rescued her crew with great difficulty. Lost in her 43rd season.

W.R. HANNA

Official No: 26669
Type of Ship: scow-schooner, wood
Place of Loss: off Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: lumber
More details: Reported in newspapers as a total loss, she was later recovered. Owned out of Port Huron by A. H. Peer, her skipper. Reported sunk NE of Port Austin, Nov 5, 1880, in a gale. No lives lost.
Date Built: 1857
Builder: W. Hanna
Where Built: Sandusky, OH
Size: 86x22x6 103g

WYOMING

Specs: 233t
Enrollment: Chicago
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: