TOURIST – Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None
• Official No.: 145493
• Type at Loss: Propeller, Wood, Passenger & Package Freight
• Build Info: 1888, F. Maynard, Bayfield, WI
• Specs: Length: 65 feet (19.8 meters) Gross Tonnage: 23 tons (20.8 metric tonnes)
• Date of Loss: September 6, 1889
• Place of Loss: Bayfield, Wisconsin
• Lake: Superior
• Type of Loss: Fire

History and Description

The TOURIST was a wooden propeller vessel built in 1888 by F. Maynard in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Designed to serve as a passenger and package freight carrier, the TOURIST was a relatively small vessel, measuring 65 feet in length and having a Gross Tonnage of 23 tons. She was one of the many vessels that contributed to the busy transportation network on Lake Superior during the late 19th century. Her propeller design made her a popular choice for various types of cargo and passengers, as the vessel was capable of navigating through the often-challenging waters of the Great Lakes, particularly in the northern regions of Lake Superior.

Final Disposition

On September 6, 1889, while docked at Bayfield, the TOURIST caught fire at the dock. The fire spread quickly, and the vessel was cut loose to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby vessels. Unfortunately, she drifted out into the bay where the fire consumed her completely. The TOURIST sank to the bottom of the bay, having burned to the waterline.

Interestingly, the History of Great Lakes Shipping (HGL) provides an alternate report stating that the TOURIST burned in Ashland in 1890, although the primary sources indicate the fire occurred in 1889 at Bayfield. This discrepancy may be due to errors in reporting at the time or confusion about the location of the wreck.

The fire destroyed the TOURIST without loss of life, and no detailed records are available on what, if anything, she was carrying at the time.

Sources & References

• Lake Superior Shipwrecks: Provides details about the TOURIST’s fire loss and confirms her destruction at Bayfield, WI.
• History of Great Lakes Shipping (HGL): Lists an alternate location of the fire, indicating the vessel may have been reported as burned in Ashland in 1890.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Western Maritime History Society (WMHS): Includes insights on the history of vessels like the TOURIST, involved in passenger and freight transport on Lake Superior.

Conclusion

The TOURIST’s end came swiftly due to fire, which was not uncommon for the wooden vessels of the time. Though she did not claim lives, her loss was a reminder of the dangers posed by fire to ships in the bustling ports of the Great Lakes. While the TOURIST was a minor player in the grand history of Lake Superior, her unfortunate fate highlights the risks that many vessels faced on the lakes during the late 19th century.