Identification & Site Information

• Name: Yonkers
• Other Names: Milwaukee (original name, renamed in 1902)
• Official Number: 91150
• Vessel Type at Loss: Unrigged Barge, self-unloading bulk freight and construction
• Builder: Thomas Quayle, Cleveland, Ohio
• Year Built & Launched: 1879
• Specifications: 264 ft (80.5 m) x 37 ft (11.3 m) x 16 ft (4.9 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,209 GT
• Net Tonnage: 1,195 NT
• Date Lost: October 4, 1917
• Location of Loss: At Ashtabula, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Stranding due to navigational error
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Bulk freight

Vessel Description & History

Originally launched as the Steamer Milwaukee in 1879, the vessel was built by Thomas Quayle of Cleveland, Ohio, a prominent Great Lakes shipbuilder known for producing both steamers and sailing vessels. The ship was initially designed as a package freighter, likely transporting manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and other mixed cargo between ports on the Great Lakes.

In 1902, she was converted from a package freighter to a bulk freighter and renamed Yonkers. This refit allowed her to carry larger volumes of commodities such as coal, iron ore, or grain. By 1911, she underwent another major modification, removing her engines and converting her into an unrigged Barge, meaning she would now rely on tugs for propulsion. This was a common practice for older steamers as a way to extend their usefulness after their machinery became obsolete.

Final Disposition

On October 4, 1917, the Yonkers was under tow when she stranded on a sandbar near Ashtabula, Ohio. At the time, she was carrying bulk freight, though specific details on her cargo remain unclear.

Unable to be immediately freed, she was left in place with the expectation that salvage efforts would resume in the spring of 1918. However, over the winter, exposure to the elements severely damaged her Hull, rendering her unsalvageable.

By June 5, 1918, the Abandoned hulk caught fire and was destroyed, effectively eliminating any chance of recovery.

Conversion History

• Built in 1879 as Milwaukee (Steamer, package freighter)
• Renamed Yonkers in 1902, converted to bulk freighter
• Converted into an unrigged Barge in 1911
• Lost in 1917, Abandoned and burned in 1918

Located By & Date Found

No known wreckage remains; vessel was destroyed by fire.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known navigational hazards related to this vessel exist today.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Yonkers (formerly Milwaukee) had a long and adaptable career, transitioning from Steamer to bulk freighter to Barge over the course of nearly 40 years. Her loss near Ashtabula, Ohio, was not dramatic, but her abandonment and subsequent destruction by fire in 1918 marked the final chapter for a vessel that had already been rendered obsolete by modern steel-hulled ships. Her Hull’s deterioration over the winter of 1917-18 serves as a reminder of how quickly Abandoned ships can succumb to the forces of nature.