Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== VESSEL NAME: SS Wisconsin OTHER NAME(S): Naomi (1899), E. G. Crosby (by 1910) Gen. Robert M. O'Reilly (1919), Pilgrim (1920) back to original name of Wisconsin (1924) OFFICIAL NO: 80861 DATE OF LOSS: 29 October 1929 REASON: Storm LOCATION: Lake Michigan, about 2 miles off Milwaukee RIG TYPE: Carferry HULL TYPE: Iron BUILDER: Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte, MI., 1881 OWNER(S): Goodrich Transportation Line MASTER: Capt. Douglas H. Morrison TONNAGE: 1,921 gt DIMENSIONS: 209 x 35 x 12 CASUALTIES: 10 - 18 (sources vary) SURVIVORS: 60 - 65 (sources vary) AS NAOMI 30 May, 1907 - While en route from Milwaukee to Grand Haven fire was discovered in the vicinity of the kitchen, be- tween decks and spread so rapidly that it couldn't be contained. Fifty passengers and all the crew, excepting four coal passers, were taken off in small boats. One of those who was instrumental in saving lives by keeping everyone calm was first mate Robert H. McKay. It was later Capt. Robert H. McKay who was in command of the carferry MILWAUKEE when it foundered on October 22, 1929. One week later, the (then) WISCONSIN, foundered in nearly the same spot. AS WISCONSIN (at loss) 29 Oct. 1929 - Was en route from Chicago to Milwaukee when a leak aft was discovered at about 11 p.m. while off Waukegan during a severe gale. An S. O. S. was issued from the WISCONSIN and Coast Guard boats from Racine and Kenosha went out as quickly as possible but due to the heavy seas were unable to get alongside the sinking vessel. Survivors were plucked from the lifeboats and water. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sources: Bowen, "Lore of the Lakes" - 1940 Shelak, "Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan" Swayze, "SHIPWRECK!" - 1992 Toledo Blade, 30 May 1907 Syracuse Journal, Syracuse, N.Y., Wednesday, 30 October 1929 Milwaukee Journal, Tuesday, 29 October 1929 Milwaukee Sentinal, Tuesday, 29 October 1929 Merchant Vessel List - 1899, 1914, 1917, 1923, 1925 Last updated 14 September 2014