CHICAGO

The steam screw CHICAGO, with the U.S. official number 127590, was a vessel that ran aground on Michipicoten Island in Lake Superior on October 23, 1929. The ship had a gross tonnage of 3,195 tons and a net tonnage of 2,546 tons. It was built in Buffalo, New York, in 1901 and had a length of 324.2 feet, a beam of 44.0 feet, and a depth of 14.0 feet. The CHICAGO was primarily engaged in freight service and had a crew of 31. It was owned by the Great Lakes Transit Corporation.

The ship was on a voyage from Duluth to Houghton when it encountered a severe gale with 50-mile-per-hour winds. Captain C. Farrell, the ship’s skipper, decided to turn back from the ship canal at Keweenaw Point due to the dangerous conditions. However, the storm blew the CHICAGO off course, and it collided with the north coast of Michipicoten Island.

The impact caused the ship’s bow to lift high on the rocks, and the vessel started to slide off into deeper water. The crew remained on board initially but eventually had to evacuate to the island. They made multiple trips in the ship’s lifeboat to shuttle supplies from the wreck to the island. After four days, when the storm subsided enough, the Coast Guard was able to rescue the crew.

Efforts were made to salvage the CHICAGO, but they were unsuccessful. On December 19, 1929, while salvagers were working on the wreck, it slid off into deep water and sank.

This incident resulted in no loss of life, as all crew members were successfully rescued from the ship and taken to safety.