The scow-schooner Sea Bird was called a "floating coffin" by sailors having been in service on the lakes for over twenty-five years and she had not had an insurances rating for years. She was built in 1857 at Conneaut, Ohio by M. Woodworth. Her official registry number was 23390.

Last Document of Enrollment: Surrendered, Chicago 12/27/1883: "Vessel Lost In lake Michigan".
July 21, 1883: The Sea Bird apparently was loaded with slabs bound from Ludington to Racine when she foundered off of Milwaukee in a squall. The wreck believed to be that of the Sea Bird was first sighted by Capt. Smallman of the City of Milwaukee when 30 miles east of Milwaukee. Subsequent searches of the lake last spotted the wreck 20 miles northeast of Milwaukee, but, lost her again. The Sea Birdwas never seen again , and it is believed that all 6 crew members as well as two female passengers perished. Various reports state the crew was Norwegian and that the Captain, Henry Henderson, was in the habit of overloading the Sea Bird.