Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fred Pabast
- Type: Wooden bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Head of the St. Clair River, near the Canadian side
- Original Owners: Likely operated by Pabst interests (commonly chartered for coal)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Fred Pabast was a wooden bulk carrier, also known as a “bulker,” purpose-built for the coal and ore trades on the Great Lakes.
Description
A wooden-hulled steam-powered freighter with a single deck, strong framing, and deep holds for large coal or ore cargos. She had a typical Great Lakes straight-deck design, with a central pilot house and machinery aft.
History
Built in 1890, the Fred Pabast served the booming coal trade on the upper Great Lakes. On 11 October 1907, while upbound with a cargo of coal, she collided with the propeller Lake Shore near the head of the St. Clair River on the Canadian side. The collision opened her hull below the waterline, and she rapidly sank. Fortunately, there were no reports of loss of life among her crew.
In February of the following year (1908), salvage crews attempted to remove the wreck because it was a navigational hazard in the St. Clair shipping channel.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the propeller Lake Shore on 11 October 1907.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after the collision; subsequent partial salvage or clearance efforts were reported in early 1908.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern diver or archaeological documentation exists for any remaining wreckage of the Fred Pabast in the area.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fred-pabast-1890″ title=”References & Links”]
The Fred Pabast‘s loss in 1907 illustrates the serious collision hazards on busy Great Lakes shipping routes, especially at key pinch points like the head of the St. Clair River. While no crew lives were lost, the accident removed a significant coal freighter from service and disrupted shipping until the wreck was cleared.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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