TORCH LAKE – Shipwreck Information

• Official No.: None
• Other Names: None
• Type at Loss: Propeller steam Tug, wood
• Built: 1860, Toledo, Ohio
• Specifications: Gross Tonnage: 20 tons (20 t)  
• Date of Loss: November 1864
• Place of Loss: Near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
• Lake: Michigan
• Vessel Type Steam-powered propeller Tug

Description

The Torch Lake was a wooden steam Tug built in 1860 in Toledo, Ohio, and had a Gross Tonnage of 20 tons. Although specifics on her dimensions are not available, the vessel was small by Tug standards, designed to provide towing services on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s purpose was likely to assist in towing larger ships or barges along Lake Michigan’s waters, especially between ports like Sturgeon Bay.

In November 1864, the Torch Lake Foundered near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, likely due to a storm. The details surrounding her sinking are sparse, but her loss was significant due to the dangerous weather conditions of the time. There were no reports of loss of life, and it’s unclear whether the crew were able to escape.

Some accounts suggest that the wreck may have been recovered, but the evidence remains inconclusive. The ship’s name, Torch Lake, continued to appear in shipping records as late as 1869 in the Michigan Vessel Register (MV), indicating that another vessel operating under the same name was still active in Houghton, Michigan.

It’s possible that the Torch Lake involved in the 1864 sinking was the same vessel later listed in shipping documents, suggesting a potential recovery and re-entry into service. Additionally, records mention that another Tug with the same name was built in 1873 in Buffalo, New York, further complicating the identification of the exact ship involved in the 1864 loss.

Final Dispositions

It is believed that the Torch Lake may have been recovered following her foundering in 1864, though no conclusive details exist on whether the wreck was salvaged or if another vessel with the same name replaced her. Given the references in shipping records, there may have been some confusion about the specific identity of this vessel.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Torch Lake, a small wooden steam Tug built in 1860, Foundered in November 1864 near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, likely due to a storm. While there is no confirmed loss of life, the ship’s wreck remains mysterious, with some reports suggesting the vessel may have been recovered and possibly put back into service. Confusion about the identity of the Torch Lake continues, as the name appears in later records, potentially linked to a new or Rebuilt Tug. Despite the ambiguity, the wreck serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather on the Great Lakes and the challenges of identifying and recovering lost vessels.