PUEBLO C133822

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The PUEBLO was a wooden bulk freighter built in 1891 by the Milwaukee Shipyard Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally designed for bulk cargo transport on the Great Lakes, the vessel featured two decks, a single stack, and was powered by a screw propulsion system. The PUEBLO had a for-and-aft compound engine with two cylinders, producing 500 horsepower. Its construction made it suitable for the heavy demands of Great Lakes shipping, particularly in the coal and cement transport trades.

HISTORY #

The PUEBLO was launched on March 21, 1891, as a duplicate of another vessel named DENVER. It initially served under Merrill & Company, operating routes between Lake Michigan, Oswego, and Ogdensburg, New York. The vessel went through several ownership changes, reflecting the dynamic nature of the Great Lakes shipping industry during this period.

In 1913, the PUEBLO was rebuilt, resulting in a slight reduction in length but an increase in gross tonnage to 1,943 tons. Throughout its operational life, the vessel was known by several names, including RICHARD W. and PALMBAY, as it changed ownership. By 1916, it was owned by Canada Import Company, Limited, based in Montreal, Quebec.

The PUEBLO encountered numerous incidents, including running aground near Kingston, Ontario, in 1917. The ship was salvaged and continued service until its final incident. On January 16, 1926, while laid up in Portsmouth Bay, Kingston, the PUEBLO caught fire. The fire destroyed the vessel, and it was subsequently deemed unrepairable.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

After the fire in 1926, the remains of the PUEBLO were moved to the Wolfe Island Graveyard and scuttled there in 1937. The wreck lies at a depth of 98 feet at the provided coordinates, joining other vessels that were retired and sunk in this historical graveyard.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreck of the PUEBLO is accessible to divers, lying at a depth of 98 feet in the Wolfe Island Graveyard. The site is part of a known area for the disposal of retired vessels, making it a point of interest for those exploring the maritime history of Lake Ontario. The wooden construction of the PUEBLO may have deteriorated over time, but the wreck remains an important part of the underwater landscape, offering insights into the shipping practices of the early 20th century.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Provides details for divers exploring the Wolfe Island Graveyard, including the wreck of the PUEBLO.
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Offers historical data and ship histories, including the PUEBLO.
• Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting the wrecks in Lake Ontario, including the PUEBLO.
• Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: Photographs of shipwrecks in the Lake Ontario region, potentially featuring the PUEBLO.

KEYWORDS #

• PUEBLO
• RICHARD W.
• PALMBAY
• Wolfe Island Graveyard
• Lake Ontario shipwrecks
• Great Lakes freighter
• Milwaukee Shipyard Company
• Scuttled vessels
• Canada Import Company

ANALYSIS #

The PUEBLO represents the evolution and challenges of wooden bulk freighters on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Built in 1891, the vessel had a long and varied career, marked by several ownership changes, rebuilds, and incidents. Its final years, especially the devastating fire in 1926, reflect the difficulties faced by older wooden vessels as they were gradually replaced by more modern steel ships.

The wreck of the PUEBLO, now resting in the Wolfe Island Graveyard, serves as a significant artifact of Great Lakes maritime history. The site offers divers a unique opportunity to explore the remains of a once-prominent freighter, contributing to the broader understanding of the shipping industry’s development and the eventual decline of wooden-hulled vessels. The PUEBLO‘s story is emblematic of the technological and economic shifts that transformed Great Lakes shipping in the early 20th century.