Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: TEDDY
• Official Number: 204394
• Type at Loss: Gas Screw, Wood, Passenger Vessel
• Builder: Unknown (Built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin)
• Year Built: 1903
• Specifications: Length: 31 ft (9.4 m) Beam: 9 ft (2.7 m) Depth: 3 ft (0.9 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 8
• Net Tonnage: 6
• Date Lost: April 24, 1918
• Cause: Foundered (sank under unknown circumstances)
• Place of Loss: Near 79th Street, Chicago, Illinois (Lake Michigan)
• Cargo: Unknown
• Loss of Life: None

Vessel Type

The TEDDY was a small wooden Gas Screw passenger vessel, typical of early 20th-century recreational and small commercial craft operating on the Great Lakes. Vessels of this type were powered by gasoline engines, a relatively new technology at the time, allowing for greater efficiency compared to traditional steam engines, especially for smaller vessels.

Built in 1903 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, TEDDY measured 31 feet in length and was modestly sized for passenger or light cargo service. The vessel’s wooden Hull construction was common for the era, especially for short-distance transport and leisure craft operating close to shore.

Her compact design suggests she may have been used for local Ferry services, harbor tours, or as a private pleasure craft, serving out of Chicago, which was a bustling hub for maritime traffic on Lake Michigan during the early 1900s.

History

While specific operational details of TEDDY are limited, she was actively registered until February 28, 1913, which suggests she continued in service for several years beyond that, possibly under private ownership or local charter operations.

The vessel’s design, featuring a gasoline engine, marked a significant shift from traditional steam propulsion, offering greater flexibility for small vessel owners. This period also saw rapid changes in maritime technology, with many older wooden vessels struggling to keep pace with emerging steel-hulled designs and more powerful engines.

Final Disposition

On April 24, 1918, TEDDY Foundered near 79th Street in Chicago, Illinois. The exact circumstances surrounding the sinking are unclear, but given her small size and age, it’s possible that factors such as Hull deterioration, overloading, mechanical failure, or severe weather contributed to the incident.

Fortunately, no lives were lost, indicating that the vessel’s proximity to shore allowed for quick evacuation or assistance. TEDDY’s final sinking marked the end of her service, and no records indicate that she was ever salvaged or restored.

Resources & Links

• • Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• • Great Lakes Vessels Database
• • Chicago Maritime Museum
• • NOAA Great Lakes Shipwreck Database

Conclusion

The story of TEDDY represents the thousands of small, often overlooked vessels that played crucial roles in the daily life and commerce of Great Lakes communities. Though modest in size and purpose, she was part of an era of rapid technological change, navigating both literal and figurative uncharted waters as maritime industries evolved. Her quiet loss near Chicago serves as a reminder of the transient nature of early 20th-century working vessels, many of which now rest forgotten beneath the Great Lakes.