Identification & Site Information

• Name: ST. ANDREW
• Former Names: W.B. HALL (1885–1896)
• Official Number: C96094 (Canadian Registry)
• Date Built & Launched: 1885
• Builder: Louis Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
• Original Owner: Likely a Canadian freight company prior to acquisition by Playfair & Co.
• Registration Number(s): C96094
• Measurements: Length: 
  • 193 ft (58.83 m) (originally 158 ft / 48.16 m before lengthening in 1897)
  • Beam: 31 ft (9.45 m) Depth: 13 ft (3.96 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,113 tons
• Net Tonnage: 722 tons

Vessel Type

The ST. ANDREW was a wooden-hulled propeller-driven bulk freight steamer, designed for transporting bulk commodities such as grain, coal, and lumber across the Great Lakes. Originally built as the Steamer W.B. HALL, she was renamed following a significant Rebuild after being wrecked in Georgian Bay in 1896.

Description

Built in 1885 by renowned shipbuilder Louis Shickluna of St. Catharines, Ontario, the vessel was initially constructed as a smaller Steamer measuring 158 feet in length. Shickluna’s shipyard was famous for producing robust wooden steamers optimized for Great Lakes conditions.

After being wrecked in 1896, the vessel was Rebuilt, lengthened to 193 feet, and renamed ST. ANDREW. The Rebuild likely included structural reinforcements and modifications to improve cargo capacity and performance. She featured a single screw propeller powered by steam, with a broad beam of 31 feet and a 13-foot Draft, making her stable and efficient for bulk freight operations.

History

The vessel had an eventful operational history, marked by multiple incidents and ownership changes:  1885: Launched as W.B. HALL, serving as a bulk freighter in Canadian waters. 1896: Wrecked in Georgian Bay but was salvaged and Rebuilt, during which she was renamed ST. ANDREW.  1897: Underwent further modifications, including being lengthened from 158 ft to 193 ft, likely to enhance her cargo-carrying capacity in response to growing demand in Great Lakes commerce.  Ownership: By the time of her loss, the ST. ANDREW was owned by Playfair & Co. of Midland, Ontario, a prominent shipping firm, and partially by her captain, Capt. Featherstonehaugh, reflecting the common practice of shipmasters holding ownership stakes in their vessels.

The ST. ANDREW primarily transported grain, coal, and other bulk goods between major ports like Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Kingston, and other Great Lakes destinations.

Final Disposition

On September 21, 1900, while en route from Jackfish Point to Fort William to pick up a cargo of wheat bound for Kingston, the ST. ANDREW ran aground on a shoal off the south side of Bachand Island, approximately 80 miles northeast of Port Arthur (present-day Thunder Bay), Lake Superior.

The grounding severely damaged her bottom, compromising the vessel’s structural integrity. Fortunately, the entire crew survived, successfully abandoning the ship shortly after the incident. The following day, as the weakened Hull succumbed to the damage, the vessel slid off the shoal into deeper water, where she was lost beneath the surface.

Located By & Date Found

While specific modern discovery details are not widely documented, the wreck of the ST. ANDREW is believed to rest in deep water off Bachand Island in Lake Superior. The site may have been identified by divers or sonar surveys in recent years, though further exploration would be needed to confirm the wreck’s condition.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically reference the ST. ANDREW wreck. However, Lake Superior’s northeastern waters are known for submerged hazards, and updated navigational charts should be consulted when operating near Bachand Island.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL)
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Conclusion

The ST. ANDREW’s history reflects the dynamic and often hazardous nature of Great Lakes shipping at the turn of the 20th century. Originally launched as the W.B. HALL, her transformation into the ST. ANDREW after a major Rebuild underscores the resilience and adaptability of Great Lakes vessels. Despite surviving a previous wreck and extensive modifications, she ultimately succumbed to the treacherous waters of Lake Superior. Her wreck, if discovered, would offer a fascinating glimpse into the era’s shipbuilding techniques and maritime trade practices.