Shipwreck Report: Steambarge C.N. Pratt (1881–1932)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: C.N. Pratt (later renamed C.W. Chamberlain and Glenarm)
• Official Number: 80574
• Vessel Type: Wooden Steambarge
• Built: 1881, by Henry Jenkins, Walkerville, Ontario
• Original Owner: Simon Wigle, Windsor, Ontario
• Final Location: Saint Lawrence River
•  Date Lost: 1932
• Cause: Foundered
• Cargo at Loss: Unknown
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Specifications  Length: 127 feet (38.7 meters)  Beam: 26.6 feet (8.1 meters) Depth: 9.7 feet (3.0 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 321.04 tons
• Net Tonnage: 191.9 tons
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: One
• Propulsion: Steam screw-driven
• Engine: 120 HP high-pressure engine by Cuyahoga Furnace Company (1869)
• Boiler: Scotch boiler 10 x 11’, 110 pounds steam pressure (from Tug Zouave)
• Number of Masts: One

Operational History

The C.N. Pratt was a wooden-hulled steambarge, a vessel type commonly used on the Great Lakes and inland waterways for bulk cargo transport. She was built in 1881 in Walkerville, Ontario, for Simon Wigle of Windsor, Ontario.

Initially designed for carrying coal, lumber, and general freight, she operated between Cleveland, Collingwood, Windsor, and other Great Lakes ports.

Engine and Machinery from the Tug Zouave  The C.N. Pratt’s engine and boiler originally came from the steam Tug Zouave, which had been Abandoned at Sombra, Ontario, in 1877 after a collision.  The 120 HP engine and Scotch boiler were repurposed from the Tug, extending their operational life.

Notable Events and Ownership Transfers

• 1883: Transported coal and oil between Cleveland, Ohio, and Collingwood, Ontario.
• 1885: Burned at dock in Windsor but was Rebuilt.
• 1886: Ownership changed to Tom McGowan & Chamberlain. Later that year, it was Rebuilt, renamed C.W. Chamberlain, and received a more powerful 280 HP engine.
• 1890–1915: Continued service, mainly towing barges and moving cargo.
• 1913: Transferred to Midland, Ontario, a major shipping hub.
• 1915: Towed the Barge Aloma.
• 1929: Renamed Glenarm and operated by Consolidated Oka Sand & Gravel Co., Montreal.

Final Voyage & Loss (1932)

• Date of Loss: 1932
• Location: Saint Lawrence River
• Cause: Foundered (sank, likely due to structural failure or rough conditions)
• Cargo at Loss: Unknown
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Incident Details  By 1932, the Glenarm (formerly C.N. Pratt) was an aging wooden vessel, possibly weakened by decades of service. She Foundered in the Saint Lawrence River, but details of her sinking remain scarce.
•  Given the vessel’s wooden construction, she likely broke apart and settled in deep water, making recovery difficult.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Saint Lawrence River (exact position unknown).
• Current Condition:  If not salvaged, the wooden Hull has likely deteriorated over the years. Metal components, machinery, and possibly cargo remains may still be on the riverbed.
• Sonar or ROV searches may detect the engine and boiler, which were repurposed from the Zouave.
• Potential for Discovery:  The Saint Lawrence River is well-documented for shipwrecks, and wreck divers or archaeologists may eventually locate the remains of the Glenarm (C.N. Pratt).

Legacy and Significance

Long Service Life & Multiple Rebuilds Originally launched as C.N. Pratt in 1881, she was Rebuilt and renamed twice, serving for over 50 years.  She is an example of how wooden Great Lakes vessels were often Rebuilt, repurposed, and extended far beyond their expected lifespan.

A Vessel with a Shared History  The engine and boiler from the Zouave connected two vessels across different decades.  This reflects the practice of recycling valuable ship components, common in Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence shipping.

An Example of the Decline of Wooden Steambarges  By the 1920s and 1930s, wooden steambarges like the Glenarm (C.N. Pratt) were being replaced by steel-hulled vessels.  Her sinking in 1932 symbolizes the end of an era for wooden Great Lakes cargo ships.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical ship records, ownership transfers, and accident reports.
• Canadian Museum of History  https://www.historymuseum.ca Documents shipping on the Saint Lawrence River and Great Lakes.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Point, MI)  https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com Archives shipwrecks from the Great Lakes and connecting waterways.
• Library and Archives Canada  https://library-archives.canada.ca  Holds historical ship registrations, ownership records, and maritime trade documents.

Conclusion

The C.N. Pratt (1881–1932) was a wooden steambarge built in Walkerville, Ontario, serving for over 50 years under multiple names (C.W. Chamberlain, Glenarm). Originally powered by the recycled engine and boiler from the Tug Zouave, she was Rebuilt after a fire, towed barges, and transported coal and general cargo. Ultimately, she Foundered in the Saint Lawrence River in 1932, marking the end of an era for wooden steambarges on the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Today, her final resting place remains unknown, but future research may uncover her wreckage beneath the waters of the Saint Lawrence River.