Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Algoma
- Type: Passenger/Freight Steamer
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: Aitken & Mansell, Kelvinhaugh, Glasgow, Scotland
- Dimensions: 270 ft (82.3 m) × 38.1 ft (11.6 m); Depth of hold: 23.3 ft (7.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,773 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 15 m / 50 ft
- Location: Greenstone Rock, Isle Royale, Lake Superior, Michigan, USA
- Coordinates: 48°06'41"N, 88°31'55"W
- Official Number: 85766
- Original Owners: Canadian Pacific Railway Company
- Number of Masts: 2 auxiliary sail masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
SS Algoma was a steel screw steamer equipped with two auxiliary masts. Built for CPR’s inland fleet, she featured multiple decks and accommodations for both freight and passenger service. Her compound steam engine (35″ & 70″ x 48″) by David Rowan, Glasgow, produced 1,225 hp. She was one of the earliest steel-hulled CPR vessels.
Description
SS Algoma was a steel screw steamer equipped with two auxiliary masts. Built for CPR’s inland fleet, she featured multiple decks and accommodations for both freight and passenger service. Her compound steam engine (35″ & 70″ x 48″) by David Rowan, Glasgow, produced 1,225 hp. She was one of the earliest steel-hulled CPR vessels.
History
Algoma entered service in May 1884 after being outfitted at Buffalo and possibly at Port Colborne. She operated the Owen Sound to Port Arthur route. On 5 November 1885, she departed Owen Sound with light passenger numbers and general freight. Caught in a violent gale and snowstorm, she ran aground on Greenstone Rock near Isle Royale around 4:40 a.m. on 7 November. Her hull broke in two.
The stern remained grounded; the bow section was lost or scattered. Survivors clung to wreckage or made it ashore. The CPR vessel Athabasca and local fishermen aided in rescue efforts. About 46 perished.
Significant Incidents
- 5 November 1885: Departed Owen Sound with light passenger numbers and general freight.
- 7 November 1885: Ran aground on Greenstone Rock during a storm; hull broke in two.
- Approximately 46 lives lost; around 14 survivors rescued by CPR vessel Athabasca and local fishermen.
Final Disposition
Algoma was declared a total loss. The engine and boilers were salvaged and later installed in CPR’s Manitoba. Remaining salvage was abandoned by 1888. Her stern remains near shore; other wreckage is scattered or submerged deeper.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was known immediately after the disaster. Site surveys by the National Park Service and divers in later decades documented its condition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”algoma-c-85766″ title=”References & Links”]
SS Algoma serves as a significant historical site, protected as a cultural resource under Isle Royale National Park. Divers are advised to obtain permits and be aware of the general conditions of Lake Superior.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: —
Official Number: 85766
Registry: Canada (Canadian Pacific Railway Co.)
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled passenger/freight steam propeller steamer; auxiliary sail masts (2 masts)
Builder: Aitken & Mansell, Kelvinhaugh, Glasgow, Scotland
Year Built: 1883
Dimensions: approx. 270 ft length × 38.1 ft beam × 23.3 ft depth (82.3 m × 11.6 m × 7.1 m)
Tonnage: 1,773 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: General merchandise, ~134 tons railway supplies
Date of Loss: 5–7 November 1885
Location: Greenstone Rock, Isle Royale, Lake Superior, Michigan, USA
Coordinates: 48°06′41″N, 88°31′55″W
Depth: 6–50 ft (2–15 m); deeper debris to ~150 ft (46 m)
Home Port: Montreal, Quebec
Owners: Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Crew: Approx. 44–45
Casualties: ~46 lives lost; ~14 survivors
Description
SS Algoma was a steel screw steamer equipped with two auxiliary masts. Built for CPR’s inland fleet, she featured multiple decks and accommodations for both freight and passenger service. Her compound steam engine (35″ & 70″ x 48″) by David Rowan, Glasgow, produced 1,225 hp. She was one of the earliest steel-hulled CPR vessels.
History
Algoma entered service in May 1884 after being outfitted at Buffalo and possibly at Port Colborne. She operated the Owen Sound to Port Arthur route. On 5 November 1885, she departed Owen Sound with light passenger numbers and general freight. Caught in a violent gale and snowstorm, she ran aground on Greenstone Rock near Isle Royale around 4:40 a.m. on 7 November. Her hull broke in two.
The stern remained grounded; the bow section was lost or scattered. Survivors clung to wreckage or made it ashore. The CPR vessel Athabasca and local fishermen aided in rescue efforts. About 46 perished.
Final Dispositions
Algoma was declared a total loss. The engine and boilers were salvaged and later installed in CPR’s Manitoba. Remaining salvage was abandoned by 1888. Her stern remains near shore; other wreckage is scattered or submerged deeper.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was known immediately after the disaster. Site surveys by the National Park Service and divers in later decades documented its condition.
Notmars & Advisories
Protected as a cultural resource under Isle Royale National Park. No active hazards noted beyond general Lake Superior conditions and reef zones. Permits required for diving.
Dive Information
Access: Boat
Entry Point: Mott Island or ranger station
Conditions: Cold water, variable visibility, possible currents
Depth Range: 6–50 ft (2–15 m); some debris to 150 ft (46 m)
Emergency Contacts: Isle Royale NP, USCG Lake Superior
Permits: Required within park
Dive Support: Park Service info, limited regional charters
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Some names recovered in newspaper reports and CPR documents. Further identification possible via Canadian archives, FindAGrave, and 1885 newspaper obituaries.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“At about 4 a.m. the captain ordered the sails down and a change of course. At 4:40 a.m. … Algoma was aground on Isle Royale.” — National Park Service
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Canadian registry #85766; machinery salvaged and used in CPR steamer Manitoba (1889). Insurance records held in CPR and maritime archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Mapped and surveyed by NPS; dive cards and diagrams available from Isle Royale National Park. Some wreckage visible from shore.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: 85766
Coordinates: 48°06′41″N, 88°31′55″W
Depth: 6–50 ft (2–15 m); deeper debris to 150 ft (46 m)
Location Description: Greenstone Rock, Mott Island, Isle Royale
Vessel Type: Passenger/freight steamer
Material: Steel
Dimensions: 270 ft × 38.1 ft × 23.3 ft; 1,773 GRT
Condition: Broken; stern grounded near shore; bow scattered or missing
Cause of Loss: Grounded during storm; broke apart
Discovery Date: 1885 (immediate)
Discovered By: Survivors; documented by NPS
Method: Survivor reports; sonar and dive mapping
Legal Notes: Protected cultural site under NPS jurisdiction
Hazards: Reef/rocky shore; Lake Superior conditions
Permits Required: Yes (Isle Royale NP)