LAFAYETTE U141657

• Steamer
• 20ffw
• 400ft Length
• 47 05′ 36″N 91 33′ 00″ W 

On November 28, 1905, the steamer LAFAYETTE met a tragic fate when it foundered near Encampment Island in Lake Superior. The vessel, a propeller weighing 5,113 gross tons, had been built in 1900. The incident occurred during a blinding snowstorm and a powerful gale. The crew reported that the steamer had lost its bearings in the storm and had just signaled its barge, the MANILA, to anchor when disaster struck. The MANILA, following closely behind, collided with the stern of the steamer. Although the barge veered away after the impact, four men from the steamer managed to jump aboard before the separation occurred. The MANILA ended up coming to a stop broadside against the shore, near overhanging trees. The crew members who had made it to the barge climbed the trees and rushed to aid their comrades on the steamer.

Tragically, one crew member named Patrick Wade from Buffalo, who worked as a fireman, lost his life in a harrowing accident. While attempting to cross a hawser, the sudden movement of the steamer caused the hawser to tighten, propelling Wade high into the air. He plummeted into the surf and was never seen again. The rest of the crew survived the incident.

The LAFAYETTE was subsequently declared a total loss, and the vessel sank in Lake Superior. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the sinking. In 1906, the List of Merchant Vessels reported the loss of the LAFAYETTE, confirming its status as a sunken ship.

However, salvage operations were conducted to recover the salvageable parts of the LAFAYETTE. The stern of the ship, which contained the machinery and boilers, was salvaged and towed to Duluth in September of the same year. This unique spectacle drew attention as it was towed through the canal by the steamer COLGATE and the tug ZENITH. Instead of dismantling the machinery, a decision was made to build a bulkhead across the aft section of the ship, which had broken in two. The section was then pumped out and floated. The salvaged machinery was deemed to be in good condition and was planned to be installed in the steel barge MANILA, which would be converted into a steamer.

Despite the loss of the LAFAYETTE, the Pittsburg Steamship Company, which owned the vessel, was able to salvage most of its fleet. The other stranded ships, including the EDENBORN, CRESCENT CITY, MATAFA, MADECIA, and W.E. CORY, were either successfully saved or remained stranded until the following year. Only half of the LAFAYETTE was recovered, while the EDENBORN still required further efforts for release.

Over the years, the remains of the LAFAYETTE were eventually sold for junk, marking the end of its maritime legacy. The vessel was initially enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, and owned by the Pittsburg Steamship Company of West Virginia. It had a steel construction, measuring 454.0 feet in length, 50.0 feet in width, and 28.5 feet in depth.