Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Daisy
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1896
- Builder: Vermilion, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approximately 57 ft × 14 ft × 5 ft; 18 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: 18 gross tons
- Location: Off Lorain, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 157465
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
Description
The Daisy was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1896 in Vermilion, Ohio. She measured approximately 57 feet in length, 14 feet in beam, and had a depth of 5 feet. The vessel was primarily employed in harbor and coastal towing operations on Lake Erie.
History
The Daisy served local harbor duties from her construction in 1896 until spring 1909. On April 15, 1909, the tugboat caught fire—reports note that a lamp likely overturned and ignited the wooden superstructure. The blaze quickly reached the waterline, and despite evacuation by crew in the vessel’s boat, the tug burned to the hull and grounded in shallow water where she was deemed a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- April 15, 1909: The Daisy caught fire while anchored or moored, resulting in a total loss.
Final Disposition
The Daisy was declared a total loss. The burned hulk remained submerged in shallow waters off Lorain and was not recovered or refloated.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreckage was documented immediately following the fire in April 1909. No precise GPS coordinates have been recorded, and no archaeological surveys have been conducted. Mariners should exercise caution in the shallow waters off Lorain, especially during spring when submerged hazards may be hidden.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”daisy-us-157465″ title=”References & Links”]
The Daisy, a small steam tug built in 1896, was lost to a dockside fire on April 15, 1909, off Lorain, Ohio. Thankfully, no lives were lost. Her remains serve as a historical reminder of the fire risks inherent to wooden vessels and lamp lighting below decks. The site remains unmarked and largely unexplored.
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.
Identification & Site Information
Name: Daisy
Built: 1896 at Vermilion, Ohio
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
Official Number: 157465
Dimensions: Approximately 57 ft × 14 ft × 5 ft; 18 gross tons
Usage: Employed in harbor and coastal towing operations on Lake Erie
Final Loss Details
Date Lost: April 15, 1909
Location: Off Lorain, Ohio, Lake Erie
Cause: Destroyed by fire while anchored or moored
Crew & Casualties: None reported
History & Final Voyage
The Daisy served local harbor duties from her construction in 1896 until spring 1909. On April 15, 1909, the tugboat caught fire—reports note that a lamp likely overturned and ignited the wooden superstructure. The blaze quickly reached the waterline, and despite evacuation by crew in the vessel’s boat, the tug burned to the hull and grounded in shallow water where she was deemed a total loss.
(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org)
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. The burned hulk remained submerged in shallow waters off Lorain and was not recovered or refloated.
Located By & Date Found
The wreckage was documented immediately following the fire in April 1909. No precise GPS coordinates have been recorded, and no archaeological surveys have been conducted.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers exist for the wreck. Mariners should exercise caution in the shallow waters off Lorain, especially during spring when submerged hazards may be hidden.
Resources & Links
- Alchem Inc. Shipwreck Index – Daisy loss details dated April 15, 1909 (alcheminc.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry – built 1896, lost 1909, no casualties (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Daisy, a small steam tug built in 1896, was lost to a dockside fire on April 15, 1909, off Lorain, Ohio. Thankfully, no lives were lost. Her remains serve as a historical reminder of the fire risks inherent to wooden vessels and lamp lighting below decks. The site remains unmarked and largely unexplored.