The steam screw Panama, formerly known as the John Craig, was a substantial vessel with a gross tonnage of 2,044 tons and a net tonnage of 1,596 tons. She was constructed at Trenton, Michigan, in 1888 and had a length of 275 feet, a width of 41.6 feet, and a depth of 20.4 feet. The vessel was powered by 1,000 indicated horse power and employed in freight service.
Originally named the John Craig, she underwent a renaming in 1903 to become the Panama. Her long and eventful career took a challenging turn on November 21, 1906, when she encountered a serious problem. A leak had sprung aboard the Panama while she was navigating Lake Superior, near Ontonagon, Michigan. The crew faced a desperate situation as they battled to control the flooding.
Despite the crew’s efforts, the Panama eventually went aground near Ontonagon. The incident resulted in significant damage to the vessel, which became stranded on the shores of Lake Superior. The crew of 16 managed to escape unharmed, but the Panama sustained considerable damage from the grounding and the leak. The incident marked a significant setback in the life of the vessel.
The steam screw Panama’s legacy is that of a vessel that navigated the waters of the Great Lakes for many years, serving in freight service and transporting goods across the vast inland seas. However, her final chapter was one of mishap and grounding, leaving her as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by maritime ventures on the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.
