03/14/2026
On this day, March 14, 1874, the Milwaukee built three-masted schooner MOONLIGHT was launched by Wolf & Davidson. 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 – Denis Sullivan, for whom our former Discovery World schooner was named.
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. Here is what the Milwaukee Sentinel had to say about her the day after the launch:
“Length between rabbets, 201 feet 6 inches; over all, 208 feet; beam 33 feet 6 inches; depth of hold, amidships, 14 feet 2 inches. Her carrying capacity is estimated at 50,000 bushels, with 14 feet draught of water, or 6,000 bushels more than the capacity of any vessel ever launched from the stocks in Milwaukee. There are several improvements introduced in the construction of this vessel. She was built of the best materials; to take a high class. The deck beams are bolted on to the shell pieces, instead of being mortised, as usual. Heavy oak is bolted between the beams, to hold them immovable. These pieces are bored in order to promote the necessary free circulation of air, and to facilitate the salting process. Wire screws, removable without difficulty, cover the holes in the blocks. A recess, built in the outer part of the cabin, gives room for the stepping of the mizenmast. Wire will be chiefly used in the vessel’s outfit. The fittings, such as windlass, capstan, pumps, etc., will be of the best quality and design and embrace all the recent improvements. She seems to be a thorough, staunch, faithful built vessel; and is likely to take a high position among our lake fleet, for superiority of construction, carrying capacity, and qualities of sailing.”
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.
Capt. Denis Sullivan of the MOONLIGHT was part of a well reported race between Chicago to Milwaukee and then from Milwaukee to Buffalo with Capt. Orville Green of the schooner PORTER in May 1880. The race was well reported in Chicago papers but unknown to Capt. Green. Evidently bets were made as the PORTER left Chicago just ahead of the MOONLIGHT that the MOONLIGHT would get into Milwaukee before the PORTER. Both had a cargo of wheat. Well, the PORTER arrived first with the captain not knowing he was racing, so the race was lengthened to Buffalo, where the PORTER arrived first by about 3 ½ hours, still the captain supposedly not knowing he was racing. A constant update was listed in the Chicago Inter Ocean and at the Inter Ocean’s office awaiting Capt. Green when he won was a made to order 12 inch cigar.
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.
The MOONLIGHT sailed on until the gale of September 13, 1903. She foundered 12 miles off Michigan Island, Lake Superior, with a cargo of iron ore. Her crew was rescued by the towing steamer VOLUNTEER. At the time of her loss, she was insured for $9,000 and her cargo for $6,000.
Suzette Lopez
PHOTO CREDIT: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society and Milwaukee Public Library
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