IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: MAPLEGULF (formerly PAWNEE)

Type: Wooden Steam Barge

Depth: Unknown (wrecked on Lake Ontario)

Location: Lake Ontario

Coordinates: Not specified

Year Built: 1888

Built At: Marine City, Michigan

Hull Materials: Wood

Builder: Not specified

Original Owner: Toledo and Saginaw Transportation Co.

Dimensions:

•Length: 174 feet (US measurement) / 175.1 feet (Canadian measurement)

•Beam (Width): Not specified

•Depth: Not specified

•Gross Tonnage: 639.9 tons (US) / 621 tons (Canadian)

•Net Tonnage: 475.02 tons (US) / 453 tons (Canadian)

Engine Type: Compound Steeple Engine

horsepower: 80 HP

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The MAPLEGULF was originally constructed as the PAWNEE, a wooden steam Barge designed for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes. The vessel featured advanced structural reinforcements for its time, including a well Deck, steel arches, and a reinforced bow to protect against ice. Powered by an 80-horsepower compound Steeple Engine, it was well-suited for navigating the often challenging conditions of the Great Lakes.

HISTORY

Early Years (1888-1900)

•Construction: Built in Marine City, Michigan, and launched in 1888, the PAWNEE entered service in 1889 under the ownership of the Toledo and Saginaw Transportation Co.

•Ownership Changes: Sold to Curtis and Brainerd of Toledo, Ohio, shortly after its launch.

•Incidents: In 1900, the vessel ran aground on Gull Island Reef while towing three barges, two of which—J.R. EDWARDS and MINNIE E. ORTON—were later acquired by the Montreal Transportation Co.

Continued Service (1901-1920)

•Repairs: Extensive repairs were carried out in 1910 to maintain the vessel’s seaworthiness.

•Ownership by Canada Steamship Lines (1919): The PAWNEE was acquired by Canada Steamship Lines, reportedly through the Montreal Transportation Co. or H. McMorran of Michigan.

Renaming as MAPLEGULF (1920):

The vessel was renamed MAPLEGULF and continued operations under Canada Steamship Lines. It became a key component of the company’s Great Lakes shipping fleet.

FINAL VOYAGE AND WRECK

•Date of Loss: November 15, 1920

•Cause: During a severe storm on Lake Ontario, the MAPLEGULF experienced structural failure described as “breaking its back.” This type of failure, often resulting from excessive flexing under rough conditions, caused the vessel to wreck.

•Outcome: The wreck was subsequently scrapped, and the MAPLEGULF was removed from service.

FINAL DISPOSITION

•Date of Loss: November 15, 1920

•Cause of Loss: Structural failure during a storm

•Crew: Not specified

•Salvage Operations: The vessel was scrapped following the wreck.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Access Records

•Canada Steamship Lines History: Company Information

•Great Lakes Shipwreck Database: Explore Shipwrecks

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Historical Shipwreck File

CONCLUSION

The MAPLEGULF, first known as the PAWNEE, exemplifies the challenges of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Constructed with innovative features for its time, the vessel had a service life marked by both utility and peril. Its catastrophic structural failure during a 1920 storm underscores the dangers faced by mariners navigating these vast inland seas. Though the ship’s physical remains have been lost to time, its story persists as part of the rich maritime history of Lake Ontario.

KEYWORDS:

MAPLEGULF, PAWNEE, Wooden Steam Barge, Lake Ontario shipwreck, Great Lakes maritime history, Canada Steamship Lines, 19th-century shipping vessel.