Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Eva Wadsworth
- Type: Screw tug/towboat
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: 50 ft (15.2 m); 10 ft (3.05 m); 4.6 ft (1.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 23.67; Net 11.84
- Location: Rice's Point, Duluth, Minnesota
- Official Number: 8723
- Original Owners: S.S. Vaughn, George Lloyd
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Eva Wadsworth is classified as a screw tugboat, constructed with a wooden hull and designed for towing and assisting other vessels.
Description
Originally launched as the Wadsworth in 1871, this vessel was a single-deck, wood-hulled tugboat. It was later renamed Eva and was primarily engaged in log recovery operations.
History
The vessel was launched in 1871 and initially owned by S.S. Vaughn. It underwent several ownership changes and operational roles throughout its service life, including a notable incident in July 1888 when a kerosene lantern exploded while it was anchored in Marquette. The vessel was renamed Eva in 1889 and continued operations until its catastrophic fire in 1890.
Significant Incidents
- July 1888: Lantern explosion while anchored in Marquette; fire extinguished with minimal damage.
- November 1889: Went ashore near Bayfield but was successfully refloated.
- 13 November 1890: Catastrophic fire while moored near Rice’s Point, leading to the vessel being partially destroyed and subsequently scuttled.
Final Disposition
After the fire in 1890, the Eva Wadsworth was scuttled near Rice’s Point. The wreckage remains beneath shallow water, with minimal salvage reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is likely shallow and accessible for diving or remote surveying. The burned wooden structure may be decayed, but some metal fittings or engine parts may still be present.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”eva-wadsworth-us-8723″ title=”References & Links”]
The Eva Wadsworth represents an important piece of late 19th-century maritime history in the Great Lakes, reflecting the evolution of tugboat design and operation during a period of industrial expansion.
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
- Name(s): Wadsworth, later renamed Eva
- Official Number: 8723
- Built: 1871, Buffalo, New York
- Type: Screw tug/towboat, wood‑hulled, single deck
Vessel Specifications
- Hull: Wood, 1 deck
- Dimensions: 50 ft (15.2 m) length × 10 ft (3.05 m) beam × 4.6 ft (1.4 m) depth
- Tonnage: Gross 23.67; Net 11.84
- Propulsion: Single-screw driven by a 20 hp engine
Construction & Ownership Chronology
- 1871: Launched as tug Wadsworth from Buffalo, NY.
- 1872: Recorded as owned by S.S. Vaughn, Bayfield, Wisconsin; later transferred from Erie, PA.
- 1882: Enrolled under Marquette District registry.
- 1884–1888: Operated under C. Johnson and later C. Bush, port of L’Anse, Michigan.
- July 1888: Initially named Wadsworth, at anchor in Marquette when kerosene lantern exploded; fire extinguished before significant damage.
- 1889: Now named Eva, owned by George Lloyd of Duluth, Minnesota; engaged in recovering stray logs off Bayfield, Wisconsin.
- November 1889: Went ashore near Bayfield; successfully refloated.
Fire & Final Disposition
- 13 November 1890: While moored near Rice’s Point, Duluth, Minnesota (Lake Superior), experienced a catastrophic onboard fire. The vessel was partially destroyed by fire and subsequently scuttled at that location.
- Salvage: Likely minimal; wooden structure burned and sunk, leaving wreckage beneath shallow water near Rice’s Point.
Archival & Research Gaps
- Builder and yard records: Buffalo shipbuilding documentation, possibly in Buffalo Maritime Center archives.
- Crew and master information: Manifests, licenses, or enrolment documents (e.g., U.S. Customs, Marquette District).
- Incident reports:
- July 1888 lantern explosion—local newspaper (Marquette Mining Journal) coverage may exist.
- November 1890 fatal fire—Duluth newspapers (e.g., Duluth Herald) and fire department logs should be searched.
- Insurance claims or court inquests: Likely documentation with fire incident insurance or marine court.
- Wreck documentation: No sonar survey or dive log identified for the wreck site near Rice’s Point.
Wreck & Exploration Potential
- Probable site: Rice’s Point vicinity, Duluth Harbor—likely shallow and accessible for diving or remote surveying.
- Preservation risk: Burned wooden structure may be dismantled or decayed—potential survivors include metal fittings or engine parts if spared.
- Survey Proposals:
- Archival: Retrieve 1890 Duluth Herald coverage, fire department reports, and Marine Court proceedings, likely at Minnesota Historical Society.
- Registry: Examine enrolment and vessel documentation at National Archives (Marquette District).
- Field Survey: Use remote sensing (side-scan sonar, magnetometer) near Rice’s Point to locate remnants.
- Local Outreach: Connect with Duluth Marine Museum, local dive clubs, or historical society to gather oral history or unpublished references.
Significance
- Embodies late 19th-century Great Lakes tug development, following early regional industrial expansion.
- Demonstrates adaptive operation—transitioning among different ports, owners, roles, reflecting regional maritime commerce.
- The 1890 fire and scuttling at Rice’s Point contribute to Duluth maritime heritage and could indicate a relatively accessible wreck site for educational or archaeological documentation.
Recommended Next Steps
- Newspaper Research:
- Duluth Herald or Duluth News Tribune (Nov 1890) detailing fire and loss.
- Bayfield and Marquette periodicals (1888 lantern incident, 1889 grounding).
- Official Records:
- U.S. Customs enrolment ledger in National Archives (Marquette District).
- Duluth fire department or marine court case files (Minnesota Historical Society archives).
- Field Reconnaissance:
- Geolocate Rice’s Point scuttling area; commission a sonar/magnetometer scan.
- Engage local dive organizations for logistical support.