Site Description
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- Vessel Name: SPECULAR
- Vessel Type: Steamer (originally Schooner-Barge, later converted to Bulk Freighter)
- Depth: 40 feet (13 meters)
- Length: 265 feet
- Location: Point Pelee, Lake Erie
- Coordinates:
- Primary Location: N 41 49.373 W 82 32.170
- Secondary Location: N 41 49.335 W 82 32.165
- Year Built: 1882
- Built At: Cleveland, Ohio
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Builder: Presley & Company (under Master Carpenter George Presley)
- Original Owner: Republic Iron Company, Marquette, Michigan
- Dimensions (Original):
- Length: 263 feet
- Beam: 38.4 feet
- Depth: 20 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 1687.13 tons
- Net Tonnage: 1602.78 tons
- Dimensions (Post-Reconstruction):
- Length: 263 feet
- Beam: 34.75 feet
- Depth: 22 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 1741 tons
- Net Tonnage: 1439 ton
Vessel Type Description #
The SPECULAR was originally constructed as a schooner-barge, a type of vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes for bulk cargo transportation. In 1888, it underwent a significant transformation into a bulk freighter, which involved reinforcing the hull and adding new propulsion machinery. The vessel was equipped with a single deck, steel arches, and a steel boiler-house, which strengthened its structure for handling icy conditions, making it a robust carrier of bulk goods like iron ore.
History #
The SPECULAR had a varied and active career on the Great Lakes, serving multiple roles from towing barges to transporting bulk cargo.
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1882: Built by Presley & Company in Cleveland, Ohio, under the ownership of the Republic Iron Company, the SPECULAR started its service primarily in the iron ore trade.
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February 1888: The vessel underwent a significant reconstruction in Cleveland, being converted into a bulk freighter. The upgrade included the installation of a powerful fore-and-aft compound engine by Globe Iron Works, which provided 750 horsepower at 75 RPM, powered by two scotch boilers generating steam at 115 PSI.
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1886-1889: The SPECULAR served as a tow vessel, assisting other ships like the COLONIAL and the FONTANA in transporting goods across the Great Lakes.
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October 2, 1889: The vessel grounded off Round Island in Waiska Bay, Lake Superior, but was successfully freed with the help of the tug A.J. SMITH.
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June 29, 1891: A collision with the steamer MARTINI near Bois Blanc light off Bar Point in the Detroit River highlighted the perils of Great Lakes navigation.
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1892-1899: The SPECULAR continued its service in the ore trade, towing barges such as the MAGNETIC and G.R. HOLLAND between Marquette and various destinations.
Final Disposition #
- Date of Loss: August 22, 1900
- Cause of Loss: Collision with the steamer DENVER in Pelee Passage, Lake Erie
- Cargo: Iron Ore
- Crew: Not specified
- Outcome: The SPECULAR sank after the collision, marking the end of its service on the Great Lakes.
Tags #
- Shipwreck
- Steamer
- Schooner-Barge
- Bulk Freighter
- Lake Erie
- Pelee Passage
- 19th Century Vessel
- Maritime History
- Great Lakes Shipwreck
- SPECULAR
Conclusion #
The SPECULAR was a significant vessel in the maritime history of the Great Lakes, transitioning from a schooner-barge to a bulk freighter during its nearly two-decade service. Its role in the iron ore trade, combined with its various towing operations, underscores the versatility and importance of such vessels during the industrial boom of the late 19th century. The tragic end of the SPECULAR in a collision with the DENVER in 1900 serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that mariners faced on the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes. Despite its loss, the legacy of the SPECULAR lives on as part of the rich tapestry of Great Lakes maritime history.
