By Carl Eisenberg
It is about two hours from Milwaukee to Algoma, Wisconsin, a port city on Lake Michigan to visit the Wisconsin Maritime Trails Historic Shipwreck Marker for the Schooner DANIEL LYONS. This is close enough to be an interesting day trip for those who would like to explore the Christmas Tree Ship Point area.
On the day of the visit in mid-September, 2022, there were lots of bees buzzing around, ubiquitous gulls, and Double-crested Cormorants spreading their wings while perched on a nearby pier.
An interesting conversation with a local fisherman who was interested in marine history revealed that he had fished in the area with his father since childhood. He was a retired welder who during his career worked on parts of large ships, components that would later be moved to Sturgeon Bay where they would be joined to create a large vessel.
The DANIEL LYONS was built by George Goble and James MacFarlane at the Goble Shipyards in Oswego, New York, in 1873. She was a three-masted, wooden canal schooner designed to just fit the Welland Canal locks. She was 143 feet long, 26 feet wide, and the depth of her hold was 11 feet. She carried corn and wheat from Chicago and Milwaukee to Buffalo, Oswego, and Kingston. On return trips from Lakes Erie and Ontario she carried coal.
She was commanded by Captain John Blackburn through a strong storm of October 27-28, 1873. In 1877, Captain Blackburn became the harbormaster of the Port of Oswego and Captain Michael M. Holland became the commander of the DANIEL LYONS.
Near the end of the next season, on Thursday, October 17, 1878, at about 1 AM, the LYONS left Chicago with a cargo of 20,000 bushels of wheat. The next morning at about 3:00 AM while passing Algoma the wind shifted and she changed course to the northeast. Soon, the red and green lights of another ship were seen about one mile ahead. This ship was the 129 foot long, two-masted schooner KATE GILLETT. Efforts were made to avoid a collision, but the GILLETT struck the starboard side of the LYONS. The bow of the GILLETT pushed about one-half way through the LYONS. The GILLETT started leaking but the LYONS was mortally wounded. The vessels stayed in contact for several minutes and all of the LYONS crew were able to scramble aboard the GILLETT. At about 4 AM the two boats separated and the LYONS quickly sank. The crews were able to bail well enough for the GILLETT to reach Chicago a day and a half after the collision.
The site of the DANIEL LYONS shipwreck is marked by a seasonal Wisconsin Historical Society shipwreck mooring buoy. Advanced divers enjoy diving this wreck.
The Algoma North Pierhead Light was built in 1893. A concrete pier was constructed in 1932. The light is at the mouth of the Ahnapee River.
Christmas Tree Ship Point features a sculpture by Shawn Olson which was donated to the City in 2021 by Bruce and Chris Steinhagen.
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Carl Eisenberg is a sailor and birdwatcher, and has been president of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society since 2016. A retired pediatrician, he is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine. He lives in Mequon, Wis.
Photo at the top: Christmas Tree Ship Point features a sculpture by Shawn Olson which was donated to the City in 2021 by Bruce and Chris Steinhagen.
Other Photos:
Photo Credit: All photos taken by Carl Eisenberg
References:
Daniel Lyons Maritime Trails Marker: https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Attraction/Details/141?region=Index
Daniel Lyons: https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/129?region=Index
Daniel Lyons Buoy: https://wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Attraction/Details/99
