Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fontanelle
- Type: Propeller-driven steamship
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Moored near Chicago’s Clark Street Bridge on the South Branch of the Chicago River
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Propeller-driven steamship, built in 1855
Description
The Fontanelle exemplifies how the conflagration consumed not only shore-side structures but also river ships and industrial waterfront assets, adding to the catastrophic scope of the fire.
History
The Fontanelle, built in 1855, served Chicago’s river-based commerce until the city-wide fire of October 8, 1871 consumed it in the conflagration. Destroyed at the Clark Street bridge, her loss adds another layer to the historic disaster—illustrating the extensive damage to vessels and infrastructure along the Chicago River.
Significant Incidents
- The Fontanelle was engulfed in flames and burned to a total loss while docked at her berth during the Great Chicago Fire (October 8–10, 1871).
Final Disposition
The destruction of the Fontanelle underscores the reach of the blaze—jumping the river and igniting vessels in its fierce advance.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the Fontanelle was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire, there are no remaining physical traces of the vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fontanelle-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
If you’d like, I can work to find her exact build details, court records from the admiralty case, or riverfront salvage documentation post-1871.
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.
Built 1855 – Lost during the Great Chicago Fire, October 8–10, 1871)
Identification & Incident Summary
- Type: Propeller-driven steamship, built in 1855
- Location: Moored near Chicago’s Clark Street Bridge on the South Branch of the Chicago River
- Event: When the Great Chicago Fire raged across the city (October 8–10, 1871), the Fontanelle was engulfed in flames and burned to a total loss while docked at her berth (VoiceMap).
Impact & Significance
- The Fontanelle exemplifies how the conflagration consumed not only shore-side structures but also river ships and industrial waterfront assets, adding to the catastrophic scope of the fire (VoiceMap, National Archives Museum).
- Her destruction underscores the reach of the blaze—jumping the river and igniting vessels in its fierce advance.
Links to Primary Narratives
- VoiceMap Chicago River Tour notes: “The propeller-driven steamship Fontanelle was also destroyed [near the Clark Street Bridge]” (VoiceMap).
- National Archives federal admiralty case file includes testimony by Jerome Osier, observing embers carried across the river and igniting moored vessels such as Fontanelle during the fire (National Archives Museum).
Context & Conclusion
The Fontanelle, built in 1855, served Chicago’s river-based commerce until the city-wide fire of October 8, 1871 consumed it in the conflagration. Destroyed at the Clark Street bridge, her loss adds another layer to the historic disaster—illustrating the extensive damage to vessels and infrastructure along the Chicago River. If you’d like, I can work to find her exact build details, court records from the admiralty case, or riverfront salvage documentation post-1871.
fontanelle-1855 1855-10-08 15:45:00