Shipwreck Report: PUEBLO (also known as RICHARD W. and PALMBAY)

Identification & Site Information

•Name: PUEBLO (Former Names: RICHARD W., PALMBAY)

•Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter (Propeller)

•Built By: Milwaukee Shipyard Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

•Year of Build: 1891

•Dimensions:

•Length: 236.1 feet (71.95 meters)

•Beam: 36.3 feet (11.07 meters)

•Depth: 19.4 feet (5.91 meters)

•Registered Tonnage:

•Pre-Rebuild: 1,349 gross tons, 1,054 net tons

•Post-Rebuild (1913): 1,943 gross tons

•Final Location: Wolfe Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario

•Coordinates: N44° 06.856’, W76° 33.708’

•Depth at Wreck Site: 98 feet (29.87 meters)

Vessel Type Description

The PUEBLO was a wooden bulk freighter, purpose-built for transporting large quantities of bulk goods such as coal, cement, and grain on the Great Lakes. It featured:

•Two decks and a single stack.

•A Screw Propulsion system powered by a compound engine producing 500 horsepower.

•Originally designed for efficiency and durability, it represented the pinnacle of wooden shipbuilding during its era but became increasingly obsolete as steel-hulled vessels gained prominence.

History

•Launch Date: March 21, 1891

•Original Owner: Merrill & Company

•Primary Service: Shipping bulk goods between Lake Michigan, Oswego, and Ogdensburg, New York.

•Notable Milestones:

•Rebuilt in 1913, increasing tonnage to 1,943 tons.

•Known for operating on challenging trade routes across the Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

1.1917 Grounding: Ran aground near Kingston, Ontario. Successfully salvaged and repaired.

2.1926 Fire and Decommissioning:

•On January 16, 1926, while laid up in Portsmouth Bay, Kingston, the PUEBLO caught fire and was destroyed.

•The vessel was declared beyond repair and subsequently moved to the Wolfe Island Graveyard, where it was scuttled in 1937.

Final Disposition

The PUEBLO was scuttled at the Wolfe Island Graveyard in Lake Ontario. The wreck lies at a depth of 98 feet, joining other retired vessels in this historical disposal area. Its final resting place offers a unique underwater site for divers and maritime historians.

Current Condition & Accessibility

•Condition:

•The wooden Hull has likely deteriorated significantly due to its age and exposure to underwater conditions.

•Divers can still identify key structural elements, including remains of the propulsion system.

•Accessibility:

•Dive Depth: 98 feet, suitable for advanced divers.

•The site is part of the Wolfe Island Graveyard, a popular area for recreational and historical dives.

•Visibility can vary based on seasonal and water flow conditions.

Resources & Links

•Divehub.ca: Offers detailed maps and diver insights for the Wolfe Island Graveyard.

•Historical Collections of the Great Lakes: Repository of vessel records, including the PUEBLO’s operational history.

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database: Extensive historical accounts of the PUEBLO and other vessels.

Key Terms

•PUEBLO, RICHARD W., PALMBAY

•Wolfe Island Graveyard

•Wooden Bulk Freighter

•Lake Ontario Shipwrecks

•Great Lakes Maritime History

Analysis

The PUEBLO exemplifies the evolution of bulk freighters on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its operational history highlights the resilience and utility of wooden-hulled vessels during a time of rapid industrial and technological change. The fire that ultimately ended the ship’s service marks a common fate for many aging wooden ships of the era.

The wreck, now resting in the Wolfe Island Graveyard, remains an important archaeological and historical artifact. It provides a window into the challenges and achievements of Great Lakes shipping, offering divers and historians an invaluable connection to this transformative period in maritime history.