Identification & Site Information

• Name: Yakima
• Official Number: 27630
• Vessel Type at Loss: Propeller, wood, bulk freight
• Builder: Quayle & Son, Cleveland, Ohio
• Year Built & Launched: 1889
• Specifications: 279 ft (85 m) x 41 ft (12.5 m) x 21 ft (6.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,986 GT
• Net Tonnage: 1,658 NT
• Date Lost: June 13, 1905
• Location of Loss: Stag Island, St. Clair River
• Lake: St. Clair River
• Cause of Loss: Navigational error/fire
• Loss of Life: None 
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Iron ore

Vessel Description & History

The Yakima was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter constructed in 1889 by Quayle & Son of Cleveland, Ohio. She was designed for transporting bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal, and grain, which were the main cargoes of the Great Lakes trade during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The vessel was owned by J.C. Gilchrist of Detroit, a well-known shipping magnate of the time.

At nearly 280 feet in length, the Yakima was among the larger wooden freighters of her era. However, by the early 1900s, wooden bulk carriers were rapidly being replaced by larger, more durable steel-hulled ships, which were better suited to the demands of Great Lakes commerce.

Final Disposition

On June 13, 1905, while navigating near Stag Island in the St. Clair River, the Yakima strayed from the channel and ran aground. Before salvage efforts could free her, a fire broke out and severely damaged the vessel. The cause of the fire is not well documented, but fires were a common hazard aboard wooden steamers, often resulting from coal embers, boiler malfunctions, or accidental sparks.

Despite her extensive fire damage, the Yakima was later refloated and dismantled, rather than left as a wreck.

Located By & Date Found

No known remains exist of the Yakima, as she was salvaged and dismantled.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known obstructions or marked hazards associated with this vessel remain.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database: https://greatlakeships.org
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org

Conclusion

The Yakima was one of many wooden bulk freighters that met their demise in the early 20th century, a period that saw rapid technological changes in Great Lakes shipping. Although she was lost due to grounding and fire, her fate was less dramatic than many shipwrecks, as her remains were salvaged and dismantled rather than being left to deteriorate underwater.