TOLEDO – Shipwreck Information

• Type at Loss: Wooden propeller, passenger & package freight
• Built: 1854, by B.B. Jones, Buffalo, New York
• Measurements: Length: 178 ft (54.3 m) Beam: 30 ft (9.14 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.66 m)
• Tonnage: 585 tonnage (Old Style)
• Date of Loss: October 22, 1856
• Place of Loss: Off Port Washington, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: 40 to 55 (later reports stated about 50 bodies of the 60-70 aboard had been recovered), with 3 survivors
• Cargo: General merchandise
• Owner at Time of Loss: Not specified in the available records
• Captain at Time of Loss: Not specified in the available records
• Vessel Type Wooden propeller, designed for passenger and package freight

Description

The Toledo was a wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 by B.B. Jones in Buffalo, New York. It was a large ship for its time, measuring 178 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and with a depth of 12 feet, carrying a Gross Tonnage of 585. As a passenger and package freight vessel, the Toledo was likely used to transport both people and goods across the Great Lakes, particularly on Lake Michigan, where it met its ill-fated end.

On October 22, 1856, the Toledo encountered a fierce storm while preparing to depart from Port Washington, Wisconsin. As the crew attempted to lift the anchor (or “hook”) to get underway, the ship sprang several bow strakes, causing it to fill with water quickly. In the ensuing chaos, the vessel sank, and the storm contributed to a heavy loss of life. The majority of the 60-70 people aboard perished, with between 40 to 55 people reported dead, though later reports suggested that approximately 50 bodies were recovered from the waters. Only 3 survivors managed to escape the disaster.

The wreck was eventually towed to shore, but it was not salvaged. Instead, the ship was left to sink. Later, in another storm, the wreck was pounded to pieces, further scattering the remains of the vessel. The loss of the Toledo and its cargo, valued at $170,000, was considered an insurance loss.

Final Dispositions

After the Toledo sank off Port Washington, Wisconsin, the wreck was towed in and Abandoned to sink. In the following days, the ship’s remains were shattered in another storm, and it was eventually broken up. The ship and its cargo were considered a Total Loss, with the entire event being an insurance claim amounting to $170,000. The sinking led to a significant loss of life, with only three survivors of the original 60-70 passengers and crew.

Located By & Date Found

There are no specific reports of the exact location where the wreck of the Toledo was found or any modern exploration of the site. However, given the storm conditions and the wreck’s destruction by later storms, it is possible that the remains of the vessel were scattered across the lakebed near Port Washington.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no specific navigational marks or advisories linked directly to the wreck of the Toledo. The vessel sank during a storm and was later broken up in subsequent storms, meaning there are no remaining warnings regarding its wreck site. However, the site of the wreck off Port Washington remains part of Great Lakes maritime history.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File HGL, EAS, IS(3-66), GLSS, SOL, H, LMDC, LHL, NSP, BB, MPL, CTW, BLU[56]
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
• The Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Toledo was a large, wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 for passenger and freight transport across the Great Lakes. On October 22, 1856, it was struck by a violent storm off the coast of Port Washington, Wisconsin, resulting in the ship’s rapid sinking and the tragic loss of life. Despite attempts to rescue the vessel or salvage its remains, the wreck was eventually lost to the lake, and the Toledo’s disaster remains one of the many examples of the perilous nature of maritime travel on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.