A Pioneer Vessel and its Ill-Fated Journey
Step back in time to the late 19th century and explore the history of the CHASKA, a remarkable scow schooner that holds the distinction of being the first vessel ever constructed at Duluth, Minnesota. Built in 1870 by Leonidas D. Merritt, the Chaska was initially owned by Leonidas and Alfred Merritt, along with Henry S. Ely, all hailing from Oneota, MN.
Measuring 69 feet in length, with a beam of 17 feet and a depth of 5.75 feet, the CHASKA was a sturdy wooden vessel capable of carrying up to 75,000 feet of lumber. With two masts towering above its single deck, the ship embarked on its inaugural voyage, ready to contribute to the bustling maritime activity of the Great Lakes region.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans for the CHASKA. On August 28, 1871, just a year after its construction, disaster struck. Caught in the clutches of a treacherous northwesterly storm near Duluth or Ontonagon on Lake Superior, the vessel was mercilessly wrecked. The crew escaped unharmed, but the CHASKA met its untimely demise, succumbing to the fury of nature.
While the CHASKAs life was short-lived, its legacy as a pioneer vessel at the Head of the Lakes remains significant. Its construction marked a milestone in the maritime history of Duluth and set the stage for the bustling port it would become. Though lost to the depths of Lake Superior, the memory of the CHASKA lives on as a testament to the challenges faced by early seafarers and the unpredictable forces of nature they confronted.
