Erie L. Hackley Maritime Trails Marker
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Erie L. Hackley Maritime Trails Marker
 
Attraction
Description
On October 3, 1903, the Erie L. Hackley departed Menominee with nineteen people on board, bound for Egg Harbor across the bay. About an hour later, a violent squall arose, whipping the waves to monstrous heights. Soon, great walls of water crashed onto the vessel, tearing the pilothouse and cabin from the hull. The waves swept the passengers and crew overboard, leaving a trail of debris and people floating in the seething waters as the Erie L. Hackley sank. Several castaways managed to climb aboard the floating cabin. They remained there through the night, occasionally being swept into the raging seas. The following morning they were spotted by the passing steamer Sheboygan. The steamer’s crew picked them up and found several others in the surrounding waters. They clothed and fed the survivors before transferring them to a passing fishing boat bound for Fish Creek. Only eight of the nineteen people survived. Today, the Erie L. Hackley lies in 110 feet of water, two miles northeast of Green Island.
 
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