The Wreck of the Chicora (1892, Propeller)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: SS Chicora
• Year of Build: 1892
• Official Number: 126902
• Vessel Type: Propeller, Passenger & Freight Steamer
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 3
• Hull Number: 111
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Company, Detroit, MI
• Master Carpenter: John C. Parker
• Architect: Frank E. Kirby
• Original Owner & Location: Graham & Morton Transportation Co., Benton Harbor, MI
• Propulsion: Screw
• Engine Type: Triple Expansion Steam Engine
• Cylinders: 20″, 33″, 54″ x 42″ stroke
• Boilers: 2 Scotch Boilers (12′ x 11’6″, 155 psi)
• Propeller: Single 11′ propeller, 17′ pitch
• Speed: 14 mph (22.5 km/h)
• Length: 198.5′ (60.5 m)
• Beam: 35′ (10.7 m)
• Depth: 13.6′ (4.1 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,122.92
• Net Tonnage: 708.15
• Passenger Capacity: 1,500
• Final Location: Off South Haven, MI, Lake Michigan
• Date: January 21, 1895
• Final Depth: Estimated to be over 250 feet (76 m)
• Cause: Foundered in a violent winter storm
• Final Cargo: 38 carloads of flour
• Lives Lost: 23–26 (all on board)

Vessel Description

The SS Chicora was considered one of the finest passenger steamers on Lake Michigan. Designed by renowned naval architect Frank E. Kirby, she was constructed at the Detroit Dry Dock Company at a cost of $150,000. Launched on June 25, 1892, she entered service shortly after, operating year-round routes between Chicago, Benton Harbor, and Milwaukee.

The Chicora was licensed to carry 1,500 passengers and had luxurious accommodations for the time. Her 56 staterooms, grand staircase, spacious social hall, and smoking rooms were all finished in fine mahogany. She also featured an electric plant that powered 250 lights—a cutting-edge feature for the era.

The ship was built especially stout to withstand harsh winter conditions. Her Hull was planked with 6-inch thick oak, reinforced with three waterproof compartments. Powered by a 2,500 horsepower triple-expansion steam engine, the Chicora had an impressive speed of 15.5 knots (18 mph / 29 km/h).

Her robust construction and fast speed made her the premier vessel of the Graham & Morton Transportation Company. She was often referred to as the “Queen Mary of Lake Michigan.”

History & Service

The Chicora was originally built to run between St. Joseph and Chicago, later expanding to Milwaukee. She was known for record-breaking speeds, once making the 65-mile trip from Benton Harbor to Chicago in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

In the winter of 1893-94, she was reassigned to the St. Joseph–Milwaukee route, where she would operate during harsh winter months. She performed well, but frequently struggled against ice floes. On February 26, 1894, she was stuck in ice 5-12 miles off Benton Harbor and required assistance.

Despite these challenges, the Chicora remained a reliable winter vessel, and it was this reputation that led to her final voyage in January 1895.

Final Voyage & Disaster

In January 1895, the Chicora had been laid up for the winter when her owners received a request to transport flour from Milwaukee to St. Joseph, Michigan.

The voyage to Milwaukee on January 20th went smoothly, and the ship arrived without issue. However, while in port, a severe winter storm was forming over Lake Michigan.

Ignored Weather Warnings

The following morning, January 21, 1895, as the Chicora prepared to leave Milwaukee at 5:00 AM, a messenger boy rushed to the dock with an urgent telegraph from Benton Harbor. The message warned Captain Edward Stines not to depart, as a dangerous storm was approaching rapidly.

However, the telegraph arrived too late—the Chicora had already left port.

Last Sightings

The Chicora was last seen off South Haven, MI, struggling against the blizzard-like storm.

Over the following days, wreckage from the ship began washing ashore between Saugatuck and South Haven, confirming the vessel had Foundered.

Search Efforts & Mystery

The Chicora’s loss remained a mystery for decades. No bodies were ever recovered, and only pieces of the ship’s upper Deck and gangway were found floating in ice.

Adding to the mystery were two messages in bottles that washed ashore in April 1895:

• Message #1: Found on April 14, read:
  “All is lost, could see land if not snowed and blowed. Engine give out, drifting to shore in ice. Captain and clerk are swept off. We have a hard time of it. 10:15 o’clock.”
• Message #2: Found a week later, read:
  “Chicora engines broke. Drifted into trough of sea. We have lost all hope. She has gone to pieces. Good bye. McClure, Engineer.”

These messages suggest engine failure may have contributed to her sinking.

Modern Discovery & Shipwreck Hunt

For over a century, the Chicora’s final resting place remained undiscovered.

2001 Discovery Effort

In May 2001, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates (MSRA) announced they had found a shipwreck matching the Chicora’s description in deep water off Saugatuck, MI. Using side-scan sonar, they located a 200-foot-long wooden steam vessel lying upright on the lakebed at 270 feet (82 meters) depth. In June 2002, divers from MSRA conducted technical dives to the wreck. Their ROV footage captured:

• Ornate railings
• Mahogany interior details
• Historic paint schemes
• Engine room structures

These features matched the Chicora’s historic blueprints, strongly supporting the wreck’s identification. However, as of today, no official confirmation has been made, and the ship’s true fate remains a subject of mystery and intrigue.

Legacy & Impact

The Chicora is one of the most famous lost ships of Lake Michigan. It was immortalized by Chicago author Nelson Algren, who wrote in Chicago: City on the Make:

“Who now knows the sorrowful long-ago name of the proud Steamer Chicora, down with all hands in the ice off South Haven?”

Her sinking highlighted the dangers of winter navigation and remains one of the Great Lakes’ most tragic disappearances.

Resources & Further Reading

• Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates (MSRA): Website
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society: Website
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Website
• David Trotter, Undersea Research Associates: Website
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Wikipedia – SS Chicora
• On Milwaukee Article: The Disappearance of the Chicora
• Wisconsin Marine Historical Society Facebook Post: On this day (01/21)..

Youtube Video

Keywords #Maritime History #Great Lakes Shipwrecks #SS Chicora #Lake Michigan Disasters #Shipwreck Hunting #Graham & Morton Line #19th Century Steamships