By Suzette Lopez
On July 9, 1889, Burger & Burger launched the three-masted schooner CORA A. at Manitowoc, Wis. She was built for Walsh and Arten of Chicago at a cost of about $30,000. She measured 155 feet over all, 31 feet beam and 11 feet hold. She was probably the last topsail schooner built on the Great Lakes and was used mainly in the lumber trade on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
The CORA A. was a popular item in the newspapers of May 1915, when her Captain, James Erickson of Milwaukee, was drawn by high ocean freight rates and decided to sail the Atlantic Ocean and trade with Norway during the war. The following is one such article from May 8, 1915, newspaper source unknown.
“Milwaukee Men and Schooner to Sail War Zone To Take Cargo of Flour from Montreal to Some Norway Port
“A Milwaukee schooner with a Milwaukee captain and a Milwaukee crew are going to trade between America and Norway during the war. They will fly the Stars and Stripes on the high seas.
“Capt. James Erickson of 921 Mineral street is taking the schooner CORA A. from the lakes and is now in Detroit on his way to the coast. He has been attracted by high ocean freight rates and the fact that business for schooners on the Great Lakes this year is exceedingly slack.
“For some time past the captain has received letters from relatives in Norway telling him of the money that can be made by successfully delivering a cargo in Norway or England. Capt. Erickson has sailed vessels on the Atlantic before coming to the Great Lakes. He has a part interest in the CORA A., as has his mate, Theodore Hjeidaas. Three other men in the crew of seven are John Elingsen and Thomas and Anthony Olson.
“The CORA A. left Milwaukee recently bound for Drummond’s island. There she loaded a cargo of ties for Detroit. She is in Detroit now loading coal. This is to be taken to Montreal. After reaching Montreal Capt. Erickson will negotiate for a cargo to be taken across the Atlantic. Because of the danger of running the blockade into British ports it is possible that the CORA A. will go to Norway with a cargo of flour.
“Because of the risk of loss the large freight steamers are not making their runs and there is a field for the owner of a small boat willing to take a chance on mines.
“Should developments prove that the trans-Atlantic trade would be too dangerous a game Capt. Erickson and the CORA A. will engage in the Atlantic coastwise trade.
“Mrs. Erickson expects a letter from the captain upon his arrival to Montreal advising her as to whether he will make the trip to Norway or not. “
Captain Erickson had high hopes. By mid-July it was reported that the CORA A., owned by the Estebrook Skeele Lumber Co. of Chicago, with Capt. Swanson in command, had just left Quebec with a cargo of lumber for New York City.
By early December 1915, it was reported that Capt. P. J. Knowlton had bought the lumber loaded CORA A. at Rockland, Maine. Her cargo was sailing from Bangor to New York.
Norway was not in the cards for CORA A. On March 6, 1916, she foundered in the Atlantic Ocean about 100 miles east of Norfolk, Virginia. The British steamer OXONIAN, under the command of Capt. John Robb, rescued her crew of seven including Capt. Knowlton.
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Suzette Lopez is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
Photo at top of page: CORA A. being launched at Manitowoc, Wis.
Other photos:
Photo Credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
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Suzette Lopez is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
