Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: GEO. P. SAVIDGE
- Type: Wooden-hulled tug or excursion steamer
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Superior, near or off the coast of Wisconsin/Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Classified as a wooden-hulled steam vessel—likely a tug or passenger/excursion craft—common across Upper Great Lakes during the late 19th century. The lack of precise details suggests it was privately operated or of local significance.
Description
While full specifications (dimensions, tonnage) remain undocumented, the vessel’s commercial or operational background included carrying freight or passengers—possibly serving on Lake Superior or connecting ports. Named after George P. Savidge, a known maritime figure, which suggests regional significance.
History
Operated during the 1880s and early 1890s, likely out of Michigan or Wisconsin ports. The namesake “Savidge” is associated with regional maritime enterprise—including excursion services out of Muskegon. On 1 June 1893, the GEO. P. SAVIDGE caught fire while underway or moored offshore, burned down to the waterline, and subsequently sank. No survivors perished.
Significant Incidents
- Caught fire, burned, then sank — total loss.
- No casualties reported.
Final Disposition
The vessel burned completely and settled in the lake. As a total loss, she was not salvaged and remains underwater.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No modern rediscovery, site surveys, or GPS locations have been recorded.
- No navigational hazards or advisories listed related to her location.
- Wreck site, if known, would likely lie in cold, deep Lake Superior, inaccessible to recreational diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”geo-p-savidge” title=”References & Links”]
GEO. P. SAVIDGE, a wooden steam vessel built around 1881, burned and sank on 1 June 1893 in Lake Superior. Although the fire consumed her completely, all aboard survived. The wreck remains unlocated, with no modern identification recorded.
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: GEO. P. SAVIDGE
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled tug or excursion steamer (details not fully recorded)
- Built: 1881 (implied from vessel name)
- Date Lost: 1 June 1893
- Location of Loss: Lake Superior, near—or off—the coast of Wisconsin/Michigan (uncertain; site not confirmed in superior wreck listings)
- Incident: Caught fire, burned, then sank — total loss
- Casualties: None reported (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
Classified as a wooden-hulled steam vessel—likely a tug or passenger/excursion craft—common across Upper Great Lakes during the late 19th century. The lack of precise details suggests it was privately operated or of local significance.
Description
While full specifications (dimensions, tonnage) remain undocumented, the vessel’s commercial or operational background included carrying freight or passengers—possibly serving on Lake Superior or connecting ports. Named after George P. Savidge, a known maritime figure, which suggests regional significance.
History
Operated during the 1880s and early 1890s, likely out of Michigan or Wisconsin ports. The namesake “Savidge” is associated with regional maritime enterprise—including excursion services out of Muskegon—. On 1 June 1893, the GEO. P. SAVIDGE caught fire while underway or moored offshore, burned down to the waterline, and subsequently sank. No survivors perished.
Final Disposition
The vessel burned completely and settled in the lake. As a total loss, she was not salvaged and remains underwater.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. No modern rediscovery, site surveys, or GPS locations have been recorded.
Notations & Advisories
- No navigational hazards or advisories listed related to her location.
- Wreck site, if known, would likely lie in cold, deep Lake Superior, inaccessible to recreational diving.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry (“S – GEO. P. SAVIDGE” with fire loss details) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Regional vessel name linked to Muskegon excursion operations (linkstothepast.com)
Conclusion
GEO. P. SAVIDGE, a wooden steam vessel built around 1881, burned and sank on 1 June 1893 in Lake Superior. Although the fire consumed her completely, all aboard survived. The wreck remains unlocated, with no modern identification recorded.
Suggested Next Steps
- Consult local newspapers (Muskegon, Duluth, other Superior ports) around June 1893 for eyewitness accounts or official sinking reports.
- Investigate salvage or insurance logs tied to fire losses in mid-1893 along Lake Superior.
- Review maritime museum records or archive collections for vessel specifications under “GEO. P. SAVIDGE.”