 TheNiagara underway | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Niagara |
| Builder | Detroit Dry Dock Company |
| Launched | 1872 |
| In service | 1872 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #18714 |
| Fate | Wrecked June 4, 1904 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Tugboat |
| Tonnage |
|
| Length | 130 feet (40 m) |
| Beam | 24.58 feet (7.49 m) |
| Depth | 8.7 feet (2.7 m) |
| Installed power | 560 horsepowerfore and aft compound steam engine |
Niagara Shipwreck Site | |
   | |
| Location | Lake County, Minnesota |
| Nearest city | Duluth, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 46°56′45″N91°46′16″W / 46.945751°N 91.771245°W /46.945751; -91.771245 |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Detroit Dry Dock Company |
| Architectural style | Tugboat |
| MPS | Minnesota's Lake Superior Shipwrecks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000344[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1994 |
TheNiagara was a large woodentugboat that sank on June 4, 1904, onLake Superior near the town ofDuluth,Lake County, Minnesota, after having run aground nearKnife River. On April 14, 1994, the wreck of theNiagara was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[2]
TheNiagara (official number 18714) was one of the large class of "outside"tugboats[clarification needed] that were built fortimber rafting on theGreat Lakes. They were designed for the lumber industry which at the time was very large.[2] She was built by theDetroit Dry Dock Company in 1872 as hull number #9.
She was 130 feet (40 m) long, her beam was 24.58 feet (7.49 m) wide and she had adepth of 8.7 feet (2.7 m).[3] The vessel measured 276.87gross register tons and 183.05net register tons. TheNiagara is significant because of her work in the Great Lakes lumber industry.[2]
In 1889, theNiagara was rebuilt and had a new engine and machinery installed. Her new engine was a 56-horsepowerfore and aft compound steam engine that had bores of 24 inches and 44 inches by 36 inch stroke. The new engine was built by the Frontier Engine Works Company ofDetroit, Michigan. Her newScotch marine boiler 13 feet (4.0 m) wide and 13 feet (4.0 m) high, and it was built by Thomas McGregor of Detroit, Michigan.[4]
On June 4, 1904, theNiagara was sailing fromSault Ste. Marie, Michigan, toDuluth, Minnesota, to tow some construction equipment owned by Hugo & Tims from Duluth, Minnesota, ToLake Huron.[5] She was sailing in heavy weather when she ran aground on Knife Island. The crew of theNiagara claimed that the reason for their grounding was that their compass failed because it started detecting magnetic anomalies on the shoreline. Her captain ordered her engine to be reversed, but the strong winds and heavy seas drove her onto the rocks. Huge waves began to pound theNiagara; she began to break apart quickly.[5] Distress calls that were being sent by theNiagara were heard in a village at the mouth of Knife River. The village's telegraph operator telegraphed the town ofTwo Harbors, Minnesota, to request assistance. The steel tugEdna G was sent to rescue her crew. She quickly arrived to assist theNiagara’s crew. TheEdna G rescued the eleven crewmen and two passengers that were aboard. The only person who sustained an injury was Mrs. A. Merritt who cut her hand on a piece of broken glass while she was escaping her cabin.[5]
On June 16, 1904, theDuluth Evening News reported that theNiagara was quickly stripped of her boiler, engine, machinery, and iron and steel work, then the pieces were placed the machinery in the Whitney Brothers’ dock in Duluth, Minnesota.[6]
The wreck of theNiagara lies in four pieces on a rocky slope off Knife Island. The four sections of her hull include: her stem, her starboard side and keel, her port side and a detached section of her starboard side rail.[7] There is no trace of her stern which means that either it was recovered during a salvage attempt, or it lies quite far away from the rest of the wreckage. There is also a small section of her deck is still attached to her port side.[7] TheNiagara is also a rare vessel because she is one of only two known rafting tugs in the Minnesota portion of Lake Superior, the other one being theBob Anderson which was built in 1862.[2][8]
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1904 | |
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