IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Cayuga

• Official Number: Not documented

• Type: Steam Screw Propeller Freighter

• Tonnage: Gross – 74 tons, Net – 48 tons

• Length: 94 feet (28.7 meters)

• Beam: 18 feet (5.5 meters)

• Depth: 6 feet (1.8 meters)

• Construction: Wooden Hull

• Year Built: 1919

• Builder: Durhamville, New York

• Owner: Not documented

• Location of Loss: Rochester, New York, USA

• Date of Loss: April 1, 1925

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Cayuga was a small wooden steam screw propeller freighter, typical of the early 20th century, designed for transporting cargo across Lake Ontario. Its modest dimensions and steam-driven propulsion system made it versatile for navigating both open lake waters and narrow inland channels. These vessels were essential to the economy, ferrying goods between ports and contributing to the thriving maritime trade network on the Great Lakes.

HISTORY

The Cayuga was built in 1919 in Durhamville, New York, and played a vital role in freight transport on Lake Ontario. Over its operational years, the vessel became a reliable link in the region’s supply chain, supporting commerce and local industries.

However, the Cayuga’s career came to a tragic and abrupt end on April 1, 1925, when a fire broke out while it was docked in Rochester, New York. The fire rapidly consumed the wooden Hull, fueled by the flammable materials commonly used in vessels of the time. Despite efforts to control the flames, the fire caused irreparable damage, resulting in the total destruction and sinking of the ship.

Details about the cargo aboard the Cayuga at the time of the fire are unavailable, but any goods onboard were likely lost along with the vessel. Fortunately, the crew evacuated safely, and no casualties were reported. The fire underscored the persistent risk posed to wooden vessels, particularly those operating with steam-powered engines, where sparks and heat often led to devastating consequences.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Cayuga was completely destroyed by fire and sank on April 1, 1925, in Rochester, New York. The vessel was a Total Loss, and no salvageable remains were reported.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the Cayuga. The vessel’s destruction highlights historical maritime safety risks, particularly fire hazards on wooden ships, but poses no modern navigation threat.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The remains of the Cayuga have not been documented or located. The extensive destruction caused by the fire likely left little recoverable material, and no efforts to locate or preserve the wreck have been reported.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Given the Cayuga’s destruction by fire and subsequent sinking, it is presumed that any remaining wreckage has either deteriorated significantly or been lost entirely. The site is not recognized as a diving location or historical shipwreck of notable exploration interest.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Merchant Vessel List U.S., 1926 & 1923

• Loss Reported of American Vessels

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website

• Great Lakes Ships – C. Patrick Labadie Collection

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Wrecksite

CONCLUSION

The story of the Cayuga serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by early 20th-century maritime operators, particularly the persistent threat of fire aboard wooden vessels. Despite its short operational life, the Cayuga played an important role in freight transport on Lake Ontario, contributing to the region’s economic activity. Its loss in 1925 underscores the fragility of wooden freighters in an era of evolving maritime safety standards and serves as a historical marker of the risks undertaken by sailors of the Great Lakes.

KEYWORDS

Cayuga freighter, steam screw propeller, Lake Ontario shipwreck, Rochester maritime history, wooden vessel fire, early 20th-century shipwrecks.