Site and/or Identification Information
- Official Number: N/A
- Year of Build: 1852
- Vessel Name(s): TRAVELLER
- Built At: Newport, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Sidewheel Steamer
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Builder Name: J.L. Wolverton
- Original Owner and Location: Eber B. Wood & Samuel Ward, Detroit & Newport, respectively
- Propulsion: Sidewheel
- Length: 199 ft (199.11′)
- Beam: 29′
- Depth: 10.1′
- Tonnage (Gross): 603 tons (old style)
History
The *Traveller* was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1852 at Newport, Michigan. Built by J.L. Wolverton, the vessel was initially owned by Eber B. Wood and Samuel Ward, hailing from Detroit and Newport, respectively. The *Traveller* measured 199 feet in length, with a beam of 29 feet and a depth of 10.1 feet, and had a gross tonnage of 603 tons under the old measurement system. The vessel was designed for passenger and cargo transport on the Great Lakes, a common role for steamers of its era.
Constructed from wood, the *Traveller* was a robust sidewheel steamer, a popular design in the mid-19th century. The sidewheel propulsion system was powered by steam, allowing the vessel to navigate the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes with relative ease. The vessel had one deck and was initially owned by a partnership between Eber B. Wood of Detroit and Samuel Ward of Newport. This ownership was short-lived, as the vessel changed hands multiple times throughout its operational life.
The *Traveller* had an eventful service history. In April 1854, it suffered a broken shaft while traversing Lake Michigan, marking one of its earliest recorded incidents. Just a month later, on May 29, 1854, the steamer collided with the schooner *Kirk* during a fog near Port Washington on Lake Michigan. The collision, which was deemed unavoidable due to the fog, caused significant damage to the schooner, but fortunately, both vessels were able to reach port safely.
The steamer’s troubles continued, with a notable incident occurring in July 1854 when the *Traveller* caught fire while docked in Chicago. The vessel was later owned by Stephan Clement and others in Chicago by July 1855. In November 1861, the *Traveller* ran ashore at Round Island in the Straits of Mackinac. However, the vessel was refloated and repaired.
In April 1862, John Hutchings of Detroit acquired the *Traveller*. Under Hutchings’ ownership, the vessel became a regular on the Lake Superior Line, connecting various ports along the Great Lakes.
Final Voyage and Destruction
The *Traveller* met its end during a routine voyage in August 1865. After departing Detroit on August 12 with a moderate cargo of merchandise, mining supplies, and provisions, the vessel made its way to Eagle Harbor. On August 17, while docked at Eagle Harbor, a fire broke out in the vessel’s fire hold. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the steamer before much of the cargo or the vessel’s furnishings could be saved. Fortunately, all passengers and crew escaped unharmed.
Despite efforts to control the blaze, the *Traveller* was deemed a total loss. Valued at $40,000, the vessel was insured for $20,000 across three insurance companies. In the months following the fire, attempts were made to recover the vessel’s machinery. By March 1866, Gilbert Martin of Eagle Harbor successfully removed the steamer’s machinery, marking the end of the *Traveller*’s operational history.
The remains of the *Traveller* were abandoned near the old Coast Guard Station in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. The wreck now lies at the bottom of Lake Superior and has become a popular site for divers. The cold waters of the lake have helped preserve the wreck, offering a unique glimpse into 19th-century maritime history.
References and Links
- Great Lakes Towing Company Record
- Marine History Archives www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
- Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Journals
- Historical Ship Registers Merchant Steam Vessels of the U.S.A., Lytle – Holdcamper List, 1790 to 1868
- Tugboats of the Great Lakes by Von Riedel, Franz
- Great Lakes Shipwrecks Preservation Society www.3dshipwrecks.com
- Local Historical Societies
- Newspaper Archives
- Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 22, 1865.
- Buffalo Daily Courier, October 30, 1865; March 22, 1866; August 23, 1866.
- Buffalo Democracy, February 28, 1855.
- Milwaukee Sentinel, May 29, 1854.
- Detroit Free Press, December 5, 1861.
- Library of Congress
- Canadian Shipbuilding History . Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, Kingston
- various books covering a Century of Great Lakes Shipping
- Toronto Dry Dock Company Ltd. Records
- Abitibi Power and Paper Company Ltd. Records
- Historical Maps and Charts _ Eagle Harbour
- Merchant Steam Vessels of the U.S.A., Lytle – Holdcamper List, 1790 to 1868.**
