City Of Venice – Lake Erie Freighter Shipwreck (1902)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: City of Venice
• Type: Wooden Propeller Bulk Freight Vessel
• Year Built: 1892
• Builder: J. Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length: 301 ft (91.7 m); Beam: 43 ft (13.1 m); Depth of hold: 20 ft (6.1 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Gross tonnage of 2108 tons; Net tonnage of 1771 tons
• Location: Off Rondeau, Ontario, Lake Erie
• Official Number: Hull Number: 48
• Original Owners: McGraw Transportation Company, Bay City, Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The City of Venice was a large wooden-hulled bulk freighter, commonly used for transporting heavy cargoes across the Great Lakes. As a propeller-driven vessel with a substantial length of 301 feet (91.7 meters), it was well-suited to the demands of hauling materials like iron ore between ports. Bulk freight vessels of this type were essential to the industrial economy of the Great Lakes region, but wooden-hulled freighters like the City of Venice were increasingly vulnerable to collisions with steel-hulled vessels, a factor in its tragic end.

Description

Built in 1892 by J. Davidson of West Bay City, Michigan, the City of Venice operated for a decade under the ownership of the McGraw Transportation Company, transporting bulk materials essential for the growing industries of the region. Its frequent voyages took it across Lake Erie, linking ports with shipments of iron ore, grain, and coal. At the time, the vessel represented a high level of craftsmanship and utility, despite being constructed of wood at a time when steel was rapidly becoming the preferred material for shipbuilding.

History

On the night of August 4, 1902, while en route to Buffalo with a cargo of iron ore, the City of Venice collided with the Canadian iron steamer Seguin off the coast of Rondeau, Ontario. Despite clear weather and favorable conditions, the collision proved catastrophic. The Seguin, a steel-hulled vessel, struck the City of Venice amidships, breaching its wooden hull below the waterline and causing severe structural damage.

The impact created a large hole in the City of Venice, allowing water to flood into the vessel at an uncontrollable rate. Within minutes, the ship began to sink, claiming the lives of three crew members—fireman Peter Simondson, deckhand Thomas Flanigan, and watchman George Weir. Several other crew members were injured in the collision, and the vessel’s descent was rapid, sinking in deep waters and becoming a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• A Tragic Collision: August 4, 1902: The City of Venice collided with the Seguin, resulting in significant loss of life and the sinking of the vessel.
• Obstruction of a Major Navigation Route: The wreck posed a navigational hazard in the main channel between Bar Point and Buffalo, leading to the impounding of the Seguin by U.S. authorities.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the City of Venice posed a significant navigational hazard in the main channel between Bar Point and Buffalo, a vital shipping route for the Great Lakes. The Canadian steamer Seguin, identified as the cause of the collision, was impounded by U.S. authorities to address the damages and liabilities. Due to the depth and size of the wreck, salvage operations were deemed unfeasible, leaving the City of Venice on the lakebed.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the City of Venice lies in deep water, where the vessel’s wooden hull likely deteriorated quickly. Due to the depth and lack of salvage attempts, the site remains largely unexplored and inaccessible. Today, it serves as an underwater memorial to the ship and crew lost in the tragic collision.

Resources & Links

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The City of Venice was a substantial vessel that met an untimely end in Lake Erie, illustrating the risks faced by wooden freighters in an age where steel vessels were becoming the norm. Its collision with the Seguin and subsequent loss underscore the challenges of Great Lakes navigation and the critical importance of structural durability. Although it lies beyond reach in deep waters, the City of Venice remains a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by mariners on the Great Lakes and the relentless power of these inland seas.