Identification & Site Information

• Name: Winslow
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 26174
• Date Built & Launched: 1863
• Builder: Peck & Masters, Cleveland, Ohio
• • Specifications: 220 ft x 32 ft x 12 ft (67.1 m x 9.8 m x 3.7 m), 1,049 gross tons, 801 net tons
• • Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven package freighter (originally built as a passenger vessel)
• • Date Lost: October 3, 1891
• • Place of Loss: At dock, Duluth, Minnesota, Lake Superior
• • Cause of Loss: Fire, possibly caused by chemical reaction with lime cargo
• • Loss of Life: None
• • Cargo: Brown sugar, general freight, and lime
• • Owner: Lake Superior Transportation Co.
• • Master at Loss: Captain Mason

Vessel Type

The Winslow was originally built as a passenger vessel in 1863 but was later converted into a package freighter, a common transition for steam-powered vessels of that era. Propeller-driven freighters were widely used on the Great Lakes to transport goods efficiently between ports, handling diverse cargo such as foodstuffs, manufactured goods, and raw materials.

Description & History

Launched in 1863 by Peck & Masters of Cleveland, the Winslow initially served as a passenger Steamer before being converted into a package freighter. She was extensively Rebuilt in 1880 and underwent major repairs in 1884, indicating a long and active service life. By the time of her loss, she was operated by the Lake Superior Transportation Co.

On October 1, 1891, two days before the fire, the Winslow had gone aground but was successfully freed. However, this incident may have been the precursor to her ultimate destruction. It was speculated that water had entered her hold and interacted with her cargo of lime. Quicklime (calcium oxide) reacts violently with water, generating heat that can ignite nearby combustible materials. This chemical reaction is believed to have triggered the fire.

On October 3, 1891, while docked at Duluth, the Winslow caught fire. Local fire crews and the Tug Sutton attempted to extinguish the blaze, but their efforts were unsuccessful. To prevent the fire from spreading, the burning vessel was pushed to the “Flats,” a known area where derelict ships were sometimes scuttled or burned. The Winslow was completely consumed by flames and declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The remains of the Winslow were left at the “Flats” in Duluth, where they were likely either salvaged for scrap or left to deteriorate naturally. No significant wreckage has been reported.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed wreck discovery has been documented.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• The Winslow was destroyed near Duluth’s industrial waterfront, an area that has since undergone significant development and dredging. No known navigational obstructions from the wreck exist today.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The Winslow was a versatile vessel, serving both as a passenger Steamer and later as a package freighter. Her dramatic destruction by fire at Duluth highlights the dangers posed by hazardous cargo such as lime, which could spontaneously ignite when exposed to water. Though lost to history, her story remains a significant example of the risks faced by 19th-century Great Lakes vessels.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes shipwrecks, package freighter, Duluth fire, Lake Superior, quicklime hazards

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Superior, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden steamers, fire-related losses

Glossary Terms: Package freighter, Quicklime reaction, Duluth Flats, Propeller-driven vessel