The CITY OF SANDUSKY was a sidewheel steamer that was built in 1866 by G. Fordham in Sandusky, Ohio, with the official number C61158. It was made of wood and was primarily used for passenger and package freight transportation. The ship had a length of 171 feet, a width of 25 feet, and a depth of 9 feet. Its gross weight was 608 tons, and its net weight was 463 tons.
The ship operated on Lake Erie, particularly between Port Stanley, Ontario, and Cleveland, Ohio. However, on March 24, 1876, tragedy struck as the CITY OF SANDUSKY caught fire and burned while in the harbor of Port Stanley, Ontario. Despite the fire, there were no reported casualties among the crew or passengers.
The ship’s valuable cargo was lost in the fire, and the vessel itself was completely destroyed. Efforts were made to salvage the remains, including taking out the machinery for potential resale as old iron. The wrecking tug MONITOR was involved in these salvage operations.
Eventually, the hull of the burned CITY OF SANDUSKY was towed out of Port Stanley and abandoned in Lake Erie. The ship’s machinery was salvaged, but due to extensive fire damage, much of it was rendered useless except for the shaft and walking-beam.
The ship’s history includes a period when it became a Canadian vessel in 1873 with a Canadian official number. It was owned by Isaac May of Keswick, Ontario.
The loss of the CITY OF SANDUSKY was a significant event in maritime history, underscoring the dangers posed by fires on wooden steamers during that era. The fire’s cause was suspected to be deliberate, and a reward was offered for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the individuals responsible.
The CITY OF SANDUSKY remains a part of maritime history as an example of a sidewheel steamer that met a tragic end due to a fire.
