Archaeology Is All That Is Left to Tell the Story. the Lucerne Was a Victim of a Nov. 16, 1886 Northeaster. When It Was Discov

tip of Door County, just off the Pilot tion." Soon the lifeboat began to leak, and Island lighthouse, three wrecks rest on all hands began bailing as they continued top of each other. "It's a treacherous pas towards shore. After two hours, the sage," he says, noting that the Sturgeon Kenosha Coast Guard Station spotted Bay Ship Canal was dug to avoid their distress and rescued the men. There "Death's Door." was no loss of life, except the vessel's Mr. Gray is responsible for public edu mascot, a canary. Local newspapers spec cation, research, writing proposals, and ulated that had Morse and the others maintaining an up-to-date archive of stayed on board, the leaky lifeboat would sunken ships in Wisconsin waters. He is not have been able to hold the added pas also a diver, and for that he can thank sengers. Beloit's Patrick Polley, associate profes Although Mr. Gray is the only fulltime sor of physics and astronomy and associ underwater archaeologist working for ate professor of classics, who was]eff's the SHSW, volunteers from the first-year advisor. "I learned how to dive Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology working with Pat," says Mr. Gray. "He Association aid in nearly every aspect of worked with me on my diving at the the underwater program. The group has pool and at Pearl Lake (near Beloit). He about 100 members, a half-dozen of also introduced me to underwater whom Mr. Gray calls regulars. "We have archaeology and encouraged me to pur an amazing group. They work on field sue it as a career. He is a big part of why projects, mapping out wrecks and doing I'm doing this today." historical research. They are extremely Other preparations included discus dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled." sions with Beloit Anthropology With Lake Michigan to the east, Lake Professors Robert Salzer and Daniel Superior to the north and the Shea, and a Field Experience Fellowship Mississippi on the west, there is a great that funded his work with a shipwreck deal of maritime history to study. Mr. expedition off the Dominican Republic. Gray says, "It was marine transport that (His experience with the Beloit football made the rapid growth of the 19th cen team probably helped as well.) After tury possible." He is also preparing a receiving his master's degree in under book on maritime history and underwa water archaeology and maritime history ter archaeology with the SHSW's Office at East Carolina University, he came to of School Services; it is designed for Madison to work for the SHSW. fifth graders who are just beginning to "Before I started to work for the learn about Wisconsin history. An ancient dugout canoe is carefully Society, I volunteered for everything I He bas applied for funding to create a restored. Artifacts lifted from underwater could to get as much experience as possi comprehensive information and data tend to deteriorate quickly and must be ble. " He is also interested in 19th centu resource network that covers the four chemically treated for preservation. ry history, so Wisconsin made a good fit. regions along Wisconsin's lake Superior "I like to think of myself as a maritime and Lake Michigan shorelines called historian as well as an archaeologist." Maritime Trails. The Maritime Trails Mr. Gray discovered a fascinating bit will wind above and below the waves, of Beloit history in the course of his highlighting a variety of Wisconsin's archaeology is all that is left to tell the work. He relates a recent court case maritime resources. Incorporating ship story. involving theft from the wreck of the wrecks, lighthouses, historic dock works, The Lucerne was a victim of a Nov. 16, Rosinco-heralded as the most palatial maritime museums and visitors' centers, 1886 northeaster. When it was discov yacht on the Great Lakes when it sank historic ships, and other maritime sites, ered, some two days after its last sight in 1928 just off Kenosha. The Rosinco the trails will provide a comprehensive ing, only two of the masts were above was owned by Col. Robert H. Morse (of overview of Wisconsin's maritime histo water. Three men had lashed themselves Fairbanks Morse and for whom the ry. By including shore-side historic to the rigging to escape from drowning College Library is named). During a fall markers, interpretive materials, museum in Lake Superior, but were covered with cruise on Lake Michigan, Morse, his son, displays, web sites, and shipwreck moor one to six inches of ice. There were no and three guests came ashore at ings, the trails will educate divers and survivors. Milwaukee and then flew to Beloit. The non-divers alike and help to preserve his The wrecks (and their stories) are Rosinco departed Milwaukee at about tory that might be damaged or destroyed. numerous. The sites dot maps along 11:30 p.m. for Chicago on September 18. Today, when artifacts are retrieved by Wisconsin's Great Lakes shorelines, with At approximately 2:45 a.m. the next the Historical Society, Mr. Gray explains, concentrations around the Apostle morning, the vessel struck an underwa "You have to be careful. Conservation Islands and around Door County. "The ter obstruction about 12 miles east of labs treat artifacts to prevent rapid dete Great Lakes have some of the best ship Kenosha. The impact tore a "deep hole" rioration-it's a time-intensive and wreck diving in the world," says Mr. in the hull and the yacht immediately expensive process. What we are trying to Gray, "because of the variety of vessel began taking on large amounts of water. do is give people an appreciation for the types, the sheer number of sites, and All managed to board lifeboats just as importance of Wisconsin's maritime her excellent state of preservation due to the the Rosinco headed to the bottom. In the itage," Mr. Gray said. "The anchor and cold freshwater. " darkness and heavy seas, the men headed sailor on our state flag are there for a There are over 250 wrecks in the Door for the Kenosha lighthouse "which reason, and these ships we are studying County area, and at a spot between the flashed a welcome beacon in their direc- are part of it." 4 Beloit College Magazine Fall / Winter 2000 .

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