R.H. Becker (1867)
Gallery
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Scow-schooner R.H. Becker (1867)
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R.H. Becker being raised at Sheboygan on May 1,1908
By The Numbers
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Service History

The R.H. Becker was a two masted scow schooner built in 1867 to carry large amounts of cargo such as wood. She was built by J.A. Johnson at Dover Bay, Ohio. The Becker's registry number was 56207 and she was valued at $4,500 and rated B2 by the Board of Lake Underwriters in 1874. The vessel was owned by the Freyberg Lumber Company of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. On November 9, 1890 the R.H. Becker capsized off Algoma ,but was recovered and put back into service.

Last Document of Enrollment: Surrendered : Milwaukee:5/15/1908: "Vessel Lost"
Final Voyage

During a fierce Northeast gale on May 7, 1908 the schooner R.H.Becker missed the Sheboygan harbor entrance and began to drift towards shore. To avoid going ashore she let go of her anchors. The tug Peter Reiss succeeded in getting a wrecking hawser aboard, and proceeded to tow the Becker into the harbor. Before the two vessels reached shelter, however, a large sea struck the schooner broadside, and she heeled over and lost her deck load of slabs. At this point lifesavers removed the crew. The Becker continued to heel over until her spars fouled the South pier. The R.H. Becker sank immediately. The captain and crew had survived, but the Becker was probably a total loss. On May 16, 1908 the wreck was righted, pumped out and towed to the beach to determine how bad the damage was. Northerly winds threatened to push the hulk back into the North pier or the harbor entrance. To prevent this, the Becker was moved a second time to a point off the foot of Michigan Avenue where she was abandoned and broke up.
The loss was approximately $2,000 with no insurance.
Today

An investigation was launched in 1992 in anticipation of the construction of a marina in the inner harbor at Sheboygan. Details pointed towards the finding of a centerboard scow schooner approximately 110 feet long. No irrefutable evidence suggested that the wreck is that of the R.H. Becker, but it appears likely that it is.
 
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