General Information
- Other Names: WISSAHICKON
- Type: Wooden Package Freight Propeller
- Year Built: June 1, 1876
- Construction:
- Material: Wood
- Location: U.S.A.
- Dimensions:
- Length: 238 feet (72.5 meters)
- Beam: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
- Depth: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
- Tonnage:
- Gross: 1,619 tons
- Net: 1,423 tons
- Registry:
- Originally U.S.-registered as WISSAHICKON
- Renamed WASAGO and re-registered under the Canadian flag (C 117084).
Incident Summary
• Date of Loss: November 6, 1910
• Location: Copper Harbor, Michigan, Lake Superior
• Voyage: From Toronto, Ontario, to Fort William, Ontario
• Cargo: Farming machinery and supplies
Details of Loss:
• The WASAGO was seeking shelter from heavy northwest gales when a fire broke out onboard.
• The vessel burned to the waterline and sank in 30 feet (9.1 meters) of water.
• The Hull and cargo were declared a Total Loss, valued at $200,000.
• Engines: Salvaged despite the total destruction of the rest of the ship.
Casualties:
• Crew: 15 men and 1 woman
• Outcome: All survived and escaped safely.
Historical Context
The loss of the WASAGO was part of a series of devastating maritime incidents in the region within a short span:
1. The Steamer MORELAND burned and wrecked at Eagle River three weeks earlier.
2. The Steamer LANGHAM burned and sank off Bete Gris a week prior to the WASAGO’s loss.
Both the WASAGO and MORELAND were declared total losses and Abandoned by their underwriters.
Legacy
The WASAGO serves as a poignant example of the harsh and often unpredictable conditions faced by Great Lakes vessels. Its fiery demise, coupled with other contemporaneous incidents, underscores the dangers of navigation and shipping in the early 20th century. The salvaging of its engines is a small testament to the ingenuity of recovery efforts at the time.
References & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The story of the WASAGO reminds us of the significant risks and losses that shaped the Maritime History of the Great Lakes.
WASAGO (formerly WISSAHICKON)
General Information
• Other Names: WISSAHICKON
• Type: Wooden Package Freight Propeller
• Year Built: June 1, 1876
• Construction:
• Material: Wood
• Location: U.S.A.
• Dimensions:
• Length: 238 feet (72.5 meters)
• Beam: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
• Depth: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
• Tonnage:
• Gross: 1,619 tons
• Net: 1,423 tons
• Registry:
• Originally U.S.-registered as WISSAHICKON
• Renamed WASAGO and re-registered under the Canadian flag (C 117084).
Incident Summary
• Date of Loss: November 6, 1910
• Location: Copper Harbor, Michigan, Lake Superior
• Voyage: From Toronto, Ontario, to Fort William, Ontario
• Cargo: Farming machinery and supplies
Details of Loss:
• The WASAGO was seeking shelter from heavy northwest gales when a fire broke out onboard.
• The vessel burned to the waterline and sank in 30 feet (9.1 meters) of water.
• The Hull and cargo were declared a Total Loss, valued at $200,000.
• Engines: Salvaged despite the total destruction of the rest of the ship.
Casualties:
• Crew: 15 men and 1 woman
• Outcome: All survived and escaped safely.
Historical Context
The loss of the WASAGO was part of a series of devastating maritime incidents in the region within a short span:
1. The Steamer MORELAND burned and wrecked at Eagle River three weeks earlier.
2. The Steamer LANGHAM burned and sank off Bete Gris a week prior to the WASAGO’s loss.
Both the WASAGO and MORELAND were declared total losses and Abandoned by their underwriters.
Legacy
The WASAGO serves as a poignant example of the harsh and often unpredictable conditions faced by Great Lakes vessels. Its fiery demise, coupled with other contemporaneous incidents, underscores the dangers of navigation and shipping in the early 20th century. The salvaging of its engines is a small testament to the ingenuity of recovery efforts at the time.
References & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The story of the WASAGO reminds us of the significant risks and losses that shaped the Maritime History of the Great Lakes.
General Information
• Other Names: WISSAHICKON
• Type: Wooden Package Freight Propeller
• Year Built: June 1, 1876
• Construction:
• Material: Wood
• Location: U.S.A.
• Dimensions:
• Length: 238 feet (72.5 meters)
• Beam: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
• Depth: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
• Tonnage:
• Gross: 1,619 tons
• Net: 1,423 tons
• Registry:
• Originally U.S.-registered as WISSAHICKON
• Renamed WASAGO and re-registered under the Canadian flag (C 117084).
Incident Summary
• Date of Loss: November 6, 1910
• Location: Copper Harbor, Michigan, Lake Superior
• Voyage: From Toronto, Ontario, to Fort William, Ontario
• Cargo: Farming machinery and supplies
Details of Loss:
• The WASAGO was seeking shelter from heavy northwest gales when a fire broke out onboard.
• The vessel burned to the waterline and sank in 30 feet (9.1 meters) of water.
• The Hull and cargo were declared a Total Loss, valued at $200,000.
• Engines: Salvaged despite the total destruction of the rest of the ship.
Casualties:
• Crew: 15 men and 1 woman
• Outcome: All survived and escaped safely.
Historical Context
The loss of the WASAGO was part of a series of devastating maritime incidents in the region within a short span:
1. The Steamer MORELAND burned and wrecked at Eagle River three weeks earlier.
2. The Steamer LANGHAM burned and sank off Bete Gris a week prior to the WASAGO’s loss.
Both the WASAGO and MORELAND were declared total losses and Abandoned by their underwriters.
Legacy
The WASAGO serves as a poignant example of the harsh and often unpredictable conditions faced by Great Lakes vessels. Its fiery demise, coupled with other contemporaneous incidents, underscores the dangers of navigation and shipping in the early 20th century. The salvaging of its engines is a small testament to the ingenuity of recovery efforts at the time.
References & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The story of the WASAGO reminds us of the significant risks and losses that shaped the Maritime History of the Great Lakes. the treacherous waters of Lake Superior during that time.
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