- Whale Back
The Thomas Wilson, a riveted-steel, single propeller freight-carrying steamship, was launched in 1892 from Lake Superior, Wisconsin. It was a whaleback vessel, known for its unique design featuring hold beams, double bottoms, two watertight bulkheads, a steam pump system, and a conoidal head and stern. The ship was constructed by the American Steel Barge Company, with the original owner being the same company based in Buffalo, New York, under the management of Alex McDougall.
Powered by a triple expansion engine with three cylinders and equipped with two scotch boilers, the Thomas Wilson had a propulsion system capable of producing 1256 horsepower. The vessel measured 308 feet in length, 38 feet in beam, and 24 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 1713 and a net tonnage of 1318.39. It had a carrying capacity of 3,000 tons.
Tragically, on June 7, 1902, the Thomas Wilson met its demise off the coast of Duluth, Minnesota, in Lake Superior. The ship was sailing in clear weather when the wooden steamer George G. Hadley, weighing 2,073 tons, approached. Due to miscommunication and a failure to follow required whistle signals, the Hadley collided with the Wilson just forward of the aft hatch. The Wilson rolled over to the port side before righting itself briefly, but it ultimately began to sink by the bow. Within a mere three minutes, the entire vessel sank, resulting in the loss of nine lives out of the 20-man crew.
The wreck of the Thomas Wilson is notable as one of the best-preserved examples of early whaleback steamships. These vessels were specifically designed for bulk freight transportation, carrying commodities such as grain, iron ore, and lumber across the Great Lakes region during the late 19th century. The collision between the Wilson and the Hadley prompted stricter regulations in Duluth Harbor to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
