Shipwreck Report: Steamer St. Paul (Later Renamed Pfohl)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: St. Paul (renamed Pfohl in 1902)
• Official Number: 23755
• Year Built: 1868
• Final Location: Off Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Date of Final Incident: May 20, 1903
• Cause of Loss: Fire resulting from a lamp explosion in the engine room, leading to the vessel burning to the waterline and sinking.
• Final Cargo: Coal
• Casualties: No loss of life reported.

Construction and Ownership

• Builder: Thomas Arnold
• Master Carpenter: Philander Lester
• Built at: Marine City, Michigan
• Hull Material: Wood, reinforced bow for ice navigation
• Original Owner: Eber Ward & Associates, Detroit, MI

Notable Features:

Equipped with 50 staterooms, wooden arches, and an iron-lined boiler house. Built for freight and passenger service, particularly in ice-prone waters. Powered by a single-cylinder low-pressure engine (45×40” stroke, 500hp) and a Firebox Boiler (10’6” x 20’) from the Detroit Locomotive Works.

Vessel Dimension Length: 203 feet (61.9 m) Beam: 31.5 feet (9.6 m) Depth: 13.1 feet (4.0 m) Gross Tonnage: 909.62 (later adjusted to 827 gross tons in 1903 after rebuilds)

Historical Chronology

Early Career (1868–1881):

• 1868: Built to operate between Buffalo and Lake Superior, carrying freight and passengers.
• 1872: Blown ashore in Duluth Harbor, recovered, and repaired.
• 1874: Owned by Ward’s Central & Lake Superior Line, operating freight and passenger routes.
• 1878: Purchased by F.W. Gilchrist, running routes from Detroit to Alpena, Cheboygan, and Mackinac.

Rebuilds and Incidents (1881–1902):

• 1881–1882: Rebuilt and ran freight and passenger routes between Chicago and Collingwood, Ontario.
• 1883: Burned at Detour, St. Mary’s River; later repaired in Detroit. A subsequent fire occurred during repairs, resulting in the death of the first mate.
• 1887: Converted into a steambarge for bulk cargo, remeasured to 760 gross tons.
• 1895: Collision with Whaleback #107 on the Detroit River, requiring repairs to frames and Deck beams.
• 1900: Caught fire off Alpena, Michigan, but was towed to safety, sunk for extinguishing, and later raised for repairs.

Final Years (1902–1903):

• 1902: Purchased by George W. Pfohl of Buffalo, New York, and renamed Pfohl. Extensively Rebuilt and continued operations.
• May 20, 1903: While loaded with coal, the vessel suffered a lamp explosion in the engine room off Goderich, Ontario, catching fire and sinking. The crew escaped safely, but the vessel was burned to the waterline and declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The Pfohl sank off Goderich, Lake Huron, where the wreckage remains. Despite multiple rebuilds and repairs throughout its career, the vessel’s history of fires and collisions ultimately led to its demise.

Significance

The St. Paul/Pfohl exemplifies the challenges faced by 19th-century wooden steamers on the Great Lakes, particularly those adapted for freight and passenger service. Its long history of incidents, repairs, and rebuilds reflects the high demands placed on such vessels during the era.

Sources and Further Exploration

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Focus on wrecks near Goderich and Lake Huron.
• Library and Archives Canada: Search for incident reports and shipping records related to the St. Paul/Pfohl.
• Facebook Post by Brandon Baillod Photo of the St. Paul