CUMBERLAND

The Tragic Tale of SS Cumberland: A Paddlewheeler’s Misfortunes on Lake Superior

In the annals of maritime history, the SS Cumberland stands as a poignant reminder of the treacherous waters of Lake Superior and the misfortunes that befell this once-grand paddlewheeler. Constructed in 1871 by Melanchthan & Simpson of Port Robinson, Ontario, for Perry & Company, a Toronto steamship line, the Cumberland was launched on August 8, 1871. She was a wooden-hulled, sidewheel paddleboat, measuring 208 feet in length at the keel and 214 feet overall, with a beam of 28 feet and a draft of 10 feet 6 inches. The ship was powered by a formidable 400HP walking beam engine and possessed paddlewheels of 30 feet in diameter.

Named after Fred W. Cumberland, the general manager of the Northern Railway of Canada, the Cumberland was intended to run between Duluth, Minnesota, and Collingwood or Owen Sound, Ontario, under the ownership of the Toronto and Lake Superior Navigation Company, a subsidiary of the Northern Railway.

However, the Cumberland’s journey was marred by a series of unfortunate incidents that would eventually culminate in her tragic sinking. In November 1872, she found herself trapped in ice on the St. Mary’s River, leading most of the crew to abandon ship and trek on foot to Collingwood, Ontario. The fate of those left aboard remains shrouded in mystery, as the ship likely overwintered in the ice. Subsequent years saw the Cumberland caught in storms, running aground, and experiencing near-catastrophic events that tested the resilience of both vessel and crew.

The fateful date of July 25, 1877, marked the Cumberland’s final voyage. After spending three days grounded on a sandbar in Nipigon Harbor, she departed for Thunder Bay, Ontario. But the clear and dry weather couldn’t protect the ship from calamity. The vessel began taking on water, and passengers were swiftly transferred to another ship. The following day, the Cumberland struck a reef near the Rock of Ages Light, effectively grounding her bow section. Despite efforts by other ships to free her, the Cumberland remained firmly stuck.

Salvage operations were launched, but the wreck’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. By August 12, all attempts to salvage the ship were abandoned. Tragically, on August 18, the Cumberland broke apart entirely, and within weeks, the remains of the once-proud paddlewheeler lay submerged beneath Lake Superior’s depths.

Today, large portions of the ship still rest in 20 to 80 feet of water, including the wooden hull, side-wheel, and boiler. However, most of the superstructure and engine are missing, lost to the ravages of time and the elements. The wreck lies intermingled with portions of the hull from the Henry Chisholm, which sank later in 1898, and is near the remains of the George M. Cox.

The Cumberland’s legacy endures as the only known example of its size, style, and age as a shipwreck in Lake Superior. She serves as a somber reminder of the perils that befell sailors and passengers on the Great Lakes and stands as a protected historical site, preserving the memory of her ill-fated voyage on Lake Superior’s unpredictable waters.