Bessie Boalt
Schooner · United States · Lost 1884 · Chicago & Southern Lake Michigan
The schooner Bessie Boalt broke up near Two Rivers after leaking, capsizing and being towed into shallow water in 1884.
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The Vessel and Her Loss
Bessie Boalt was built in 1868 and worked as a wooden schooner on Lake Michigan. Earlier wrecks at St. Joseph and Frankfort were followed by recovery. Crossing from Leland to Milwaukee with cordwood on September 21, 1884, she sprang a leak, became waterlogged off Two Rivers and was abandoned. After capsizing, she was towed into shallow water by the tug Welcome and went to pieces on October 4. Cargo and valuable equipment were recovered.
Vessel
- 1868
- US registry no. 2584
- Charles Grinwold Boalt
- Ahnapee, Wisconsin; possibly Wolf River
- Wood
- 103 ft
- 26.5 ft
- 173 gross tons
- Sail
- Not established
Loss
- October 4, 1884
- Not established
- About half a mile northeast of the U.S. Lifesaving Station at Two Rivers, Wisconsin
- Lake Michigan
- Leland, Michigan → Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cordwood
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (82/100)
Exact wreck position, depth, present condition and casualty totals are not established in the reviewed account.
Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant — Wisconsin Shipwrecks
Construction and dimensions, schooner rig, earlier recovered casualties, September 1884 leak and capsize, towing and October 4 breakup; recovery of cargo and equipment.
