Type: Steel-Hulled Schooner-Barge

• Name: Madeira
• Builder: Chicago Ship Building Co., Chicago, Illinois
• Year Built: 1900
• Material: Steel Hull with flat plate Keel design for optimized cargo capacity
• Ownership: Minnesota Steam Ship Co.
• Primary Cargo: Iron ore, lumber, and grain
• Lengths: 436 ft (133 m)
• Beam: 50 ft (15.2 m)
• Depth: 24.2 ft (7.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: Unknown
• Location: Gold Rock Point, near Split Rock, Lake Superior

Built in 1900, the Madeira was a significant addition to the Great Lakes’ fleet of Schooner-barges, designed to maximize bulk cargo transport. Towed by powerful steamships like the William Edenborn, the Madeira played a key role in connecting industrial centers across Duluth, Minnesota, Ashtabula, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois.

Final Voyage (November 28, 1905):

Incident: Caught in a storm with winds reaching 70–80 mph, coupled with blinding snow and towering waves. Released by the towing vessel William Edenborn to prevent both ships from succumbing to the storm. Collided with Gold Rock Point, near Split Rock, Minnesota, hours later.

Outcome:The Madeira was torn apart by the relentless storm, sinking shortly after impact. One crew member perished, while others narrowly escaped to shore.

Legacy: The Madeira became a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of Schooner-barges during extreme weather conditions.

DISCOVERY AND SALVAGE EFFORTS

1955 Exploration: Divers from the Frigid Frogs Dive Club (Duluth, Minnesota) located the wreck but reported few artifacts of value.

1960 Salvage Efforts: Divers Ed Clark and Captain R. Metz unearthed the helm from the ship’s pilothouse at a depth of 80 ft (24 m). Two helms were retrieved; one was deteriorated, but the other remained in robust condition.

1974 Recovery: A large-scale salvage effort led to the reclamation of sections of the Madeira’s steel Hull, repurposed for other uses. Artifacts, including the ship’s wheel and an anchor, were also recovered and sold, later finding homes in maritime museums.

FINAL DISPOSITION

• Wreck Condition: The Madeira lies in fragmented sections in the depths near Gold Rock Point, scattered across the lake bed.
• Artifacts: The helm, wheel, and anchor were successfully recovered and are preserved as historical relics.

SIGNIFICANCE

The Madeira’s story highlights the duality of the Great Lakes’ role in commerce and peril. While the Schooner-Barge was integral to transporting bulk goods efficiently, its reliance on towing and exposure to severe weather underscored its vulnerabilities. The rediscovery and recovery of the Madeira’s remains and artifacts ensure that its legacy persists as part of the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes.

DIVE NOTES

Site Access: The wreck site is best accessed by experienced divers, given the depth and potential for variable Visibility due to weather conditions.

• Sections of the steel Hull.
• Artifacts occasionally found within the wreck site, though most have been salvaged.

REFERENCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: https://maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Frigid Frogs Dive Club Records
• Historical records from Minnesota Steam Ship Co. and salvage operations
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: http://www.baillod.com/shipwreck/swayze/

This report preserves the Madeira’s legacy as a symbol of both the resilience of maritime industry and the perilous conditions faced by Great Lakes vessels.

3D Models

Shipwreck Madeira Lake Superior by TimothyPranke on Sketchfab

Wreck of the Madeira – Pilot House by AISOS on Sketchfab

Facebook Post by Cape R Metz

External Links

• Captain R Metz Facebook Post