Identification & Site Information

• Name: HUDSON
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 95953
• Date Built and Launched: 1888
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, Michigan (Hull #82)
• Original Owner: Great Lakes freight fleet
• Sister Ship: HARLEM
• Vessel Type: Propeller-driven steel package freighter
• Hull Materials: Steel
• Number of Decks: Not specified
• Power:
• Propulsion: Screw (single propeller)
• Engine Type: Steam-powered
• Measurements: Length: 288 ft (87.8 m) Beam: 41 ft (12.5 m) Depth: 23 ft (7.0 m)
• Tonnage (Gross): 2,294 tons
• Tonnage (Net): 1,853 tons

Vessel Type

The HUDSON was a steel-hulled package freighter, designed to transport grain, flax seed, and other bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. Built in 1888 by Detroit Dry Dock Co., the vessel was one of the more modern steamers of its time, featuring fore-and-aft tandem stacks and a distinctive green and grey paint scheme, making it one of the most recognizable ships on the Great Lakes.

Sailing alongside its sister ship, HARLEM, the HUDSON was part of a fleet that played a crucial role in grain transport between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

History

The HUDSON operated for 13 years, mainly carrying bulk cargo such as wheat, flax seed, and other grains. It frequently traveled from Duluth, Minnesota, transporting Midwest agricultural products to eastern markets via the Great Lakes system.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1888: Launched and entered service on the Great Lakes.
• 1888-1901: Actively carried grain and flax seed from Lake Superior ports to Lake Erie and beyond.

Despite being a well-built steel freighter, the HUDSON was vulnerable to shifting cargo, particularly flax seed, which was notorious for becoming unstable in rough seas.

Final Disposition

On September 16, 1901, the HUDSON was outbound from Duluth carrying:

• 22,500 bushels of flax seed
• 69,000 bushels of wheat

Disaster Strikes

• A severe storm overtook the vessel three miles off the coast of Eagle River, Michigan, on Lake Superior.
• Due to the shifting nature of its flax seed cargo, the ship likely became unstable, capsized, and sank rapidly.
• All 25 crew members perished.

The ship’s loss was not immediately confirmed. A vessel was seen foundering off Eagle River, but three days passed before it was identified as the HUDSON.

The ship’s distinctive paint job (green and grey) made it well known among Great Lakes mariners.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the HUDSON was not located for many years. Recent reports suggest that the wreck may have been found, but confirmation is pending.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• Navigational Hazard: Given its loss in deep water off Eagle River, Michigan, the HUDSON does not present a modern-day navigational hazard.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The HUDSON is one of the many tragic shipwrecks of Lake Superior, lost in one of the lake’s notorious September storms. Its sudden capsizing and loss of all 25 crew members highlights the dangers faced by early Great Lakes freighters, particularly when transporting unstable bulk cargo like flaxseed.

Though overshadowed by more famous wrecks, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald, the HUDSON‘s story remains a reminder of the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the Great Lakes.