Other Names #
- ROBERT A PACKER 1881
The Batchawana was a wooden propeller bulk freighter that was originally built as the Robert A. Packer in 1881 by W.S. Crosthwaite in Bay City, Michigan. It had an official number of C117032. In 1906, the vessel was sold and renamed Batchawana.
At the time of its loss, the Batchawana had the following specifications: it measured 209 feet in length, 33 feet in beam, and had a depth of 16 feet. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 921 tons, with a net tonnage of 770 tons.
On June 27, 1907 (some sources indicate June 21 as well), the Batchawana met with a tragic fate. The vessel caught fire and was ultimately burned to a total loss. The incident occurred off Coppermine Point, Ontario, in Lake Superior. There were no reported casualties among the crew.
Unfortunately, specific details about the Batchawana’s cargo at the time of the incident are not available. However, as a bulk freighter, it was designed to transport a variety of dry cargo such as grain, ore, coal, or lumber.
It is worth noting that in 1906, the Batchawana was sold to Canadian owners, which suggests a change in ownership and possibly a shift in its trading routes or operational management.
