History
In the rich tapestry of maritime history, the steamer “COLORADO” emerges as a vessel that braved the formidable waters of Lake Superior, only to meet its tragic fate amidst a backdrop of forest fire smoke and merciless storms. Built in 1867 by Mason & Bidwell in Buffalo, the “COLORADO” was a wooden-hulled package freight propeller that measured an impressive 252 feet in length, 35 feet in breadth, and 13 feet in depth. With a gross tonnage of 1471 and a net tonnage of 1322, it stood as a testament to the shipbuilding prowess of its era.
As the late summer of 1898 unfurled its wings, the “COLORADO” embarked on a journey fraught with challenges and misfortune. The vessel, under the managing ownership of T. R. Wright, was entrusted with a precious cargo of 1,500 tons of flour. Its intended course took it across Lake Superior, a body of water renowned for its unpredictable temperament.
On September 19, 1898, disaster struck as the vessel encountered Sawtooth Reef, near Eagle River, Michigan. The tragedy was exacerbated by the fact that the region was enveloped in thick smoke from a forest fire. Blinded by the haze, the “COLORADO” veered off course and slammed hard onto the unforgiving reef. The initial impact marked the beginning of a series of unfortunate events that would seal the vessel’s fate.
Rescue efforts were swiftly initiated, with several tugs dispatched from Duluth to assist the stricken vessel. However, nature’s fury had no intentions of relenting. A storm on September 20, followed by another on the 23rd, battered the area where the “COLORADO” lay aground. Despite the best efforts of the rescue teams, the vessel succumbed to the relentless pounding of the waves, and its once-mighty frame was reduced to matchwood. Tragically, the cargo of flour, meant to sustain many, met a watery grave.
Curiously, fate intertwined the destiny of the “COLORADO” with that of the steamer “JAMES PICKANDS,” as newspaper reports indicated that the wreckage of the former lay directly atop the latter’s remains. This stark reminder of maritime tragedy underscored the treacherous nature of Lake Superior and the perils faced by vessels navigating its waters.
The stranding of the “COLORADO” was not the only chapter in its history marred by misfortune. An explosion of its boiler off Buffalo in October 1883 claimed several lives, serving as a grim reminder of the hazards inherent in 19th-century maritime endeavors. Major repairs were undertaken in 1881, a testament to the vessel’s resilience and the dedication of those who operated and maintained it.
In the wake of the “COLORADO’s” tragic demise, questions arose about the perils of Eagle River Reef. A calamitous history was unveiled, with reports indicating that the spot had claimed the wreckage of sixteen vessels in the span of sixteen years. Among the ill-fated vessels was the steamer “H.S. PICKANDS,” lost four years prior, and now overlain by the remains of the “COLORADO.”
The legacy of the “COLORADO” serves as a somber reminder of the risks that mariners faced in their pursuit of traversing Lake Superior’s unpredictable waters. As time has passed, the vessel’s tale has been preserved in maritime records, evoking a sense of awe and melancholy at the harrowing events that unfolded on that fateful day in September 1898. The name “COLORADO” now stands as a testament to the perseverance of those who dared to sail the Great Lakes and a memorial to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of nature’s unyielding force.
