On this day September 13, 1903, a gale took the Milwaukee built schooner MOONLIGHT.  

Wolf & Davidson launched the three-masted schooner on March 14, 1874.   Her owners were all well-known Milwaukeeans – David Vance, Gilbert E. Collins, Lemuel Ellsworth, W. E. Hibbard, E. C. Hibbard, Joseph S. Peck and A. W. Wilkinson.  Her captain is probably most well known in Milwaukee today – Denis Sullivan.

     Photo at top of page: MOONLIGHT painting by Huntington

Her launch was quite the event – drawing over 400 spectators.   Newspapers across the Great Lakes gave her high praise as she was cutting edge in construction at the time.  She measured 205.9 feet in length, 33.6 feet in beam and 14.2 in depth and her carrying capacity was listed as 50,000 bushels of grain.

     MOONLIGHT in full sail with her raffee

The MOONLIGHT’s first few months did not go smoothly.  In April, one of her jibs caught fire from a spark of the tug while being towed out of Milwaukee causing great damage.  In May, she lost both anchors and chains in her first passage through the Straits thanks to an ice jam.  She waited at Detroit for the DAVID VANCE to arrive so she could borrow from her.  The loss and delay cost an estimated $2,000. The anchors and chains were later recovered.

The MOONLIGHT was busy her first summer.  Some of her charters were wheat from Milwaukee to Buffalo at 3 1/4c and she would return with 1,300 tons of coal from Dakin’s yard in Buffalo at 30c per ton.

     MOONLIGHT beached on Chocolay reef in 1895

On September 29, 1895, the MOONLIGHT stranded in a gale on Chocolay Reef about 3 ½ miles south of Marquette along with the schooner HENRY A. KENT.  The MOONLIGHT and the KENT were released in the spring of 1896, thanks to the JAY HURSLEY.  The MOONLIGHT was then sold to J. C. Gilchrest and chartered out for ocean trade in 1898.

     MOONLIGHT in later years with two masts

The MOONLIGHT sailed on until the gale of September 13, 1903. She was being towed by the steamer VOLUNTEER and started taking on water as they approached the Apostle Island’s.  She filled rapidly and began to settle.  Luckily, her crew was able to jump to the VOLUNTEER.   She foundered 12 miles off Michigan Island, Lake Superior.

The wreck of the MOONLIGHT was discovered during the summer of 2004.  She lies in 240 feet of water seven miles east of Michigan Island.  Her hull is broken up but her name is recognizable on her side.

Suzette Lopez

PHOTO CREDIT:   Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society and Milwaukee Public Library