Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Guido Pfister
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: J. Hanson, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 198 ft (60.4 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 694.3 GRT / 661.5 NRT
- Location: South Pier, Duluth Ship Canal, Lake Superior
- Official Number: 85304
- Original Owners: Buffalo, New York; Milwaukee and northwestern lumber interests
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Guido Pfister was a wooden schooner, built in 1873, designed for bulk freight transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
Measuring approximately 198 feet in length, the Guido Pfister was a sturdy vessel with a registered tonnage of about 694.3 gross tons. It was primarily used for transporting corn and grain from Lake Michigan to ports in the upper Great Lakes.
History
Registered out of Buffalo, New York, the Guido Pfister was owned by lumber interests in Milwaukee and frequently engaged in bulk freight operations. Its service history included numerous voyages across the Great Lakes, contributing to the regional economy.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: 10 October 1885, while entering the harbor at Duluth/Superior.
- The vessel lost its towline while coasting into position behind a tug, causing it to drift uncontrollably into the South Pier of the Duluth Ship Canal.
- The schooner grounded on rocks and was declared a total wreck on the spot.
Final Disposition
After grounding, the Guido Pfister was abandoned in place. It was later dynamited during pier reconstruction in 1898, resulting in its complete destruction.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Underwater surveys have confirmed that there are no intact remains of the Guido Pfister south of the Duluth entrance, indicating that the wreck has been entirely removed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”guido-pfister-us-85304″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Guido Pfister on 10 October 1885 highlights the dangers of towline failures in confined harbor entrances, particularly under the challenging conditions of the Great Lakes.
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 1873 – wrecked 10 October 1885)
Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Guido Pfister
- Official Number: 85304 (US Registry)
- Built: 1873 by J. Hanson, Manitowoc, Wisconsin — sturdy wooden schooner of approximately 694.3 GRT / 661.5 NRT, ~198 ft in length
Ownership & Trade
- Registered out of Buffalo, New York; owned by Milwaukee and northwestern lumber interests
- Frequently engaged in Great Lakes bulk freight, including corn and grain transport from Lake Michigan to upper lakes and ports like Duluth or Superior
Final Voyage & Cause of Loss
- Date of Loss: 10 October 1885, entering the harbor at Duluth/Superior
- While coasting into position behind her towing tug, the tug lost the towline, causing Guido Pfister to glide uncontrollably into the South Pier of the Duluth Ship Canal
- The schooner grounded on rocks and was declared a total wreck on the spot. The vessel was later dynamited during pier reconstruction in 1898, and the remains buried or cleared
Disposition & Aftermath
- Salvage and recovery: Abandoned in place shortly after the grounding; no records of successful salvage efforts
- Wreck condition: Entirely destroyed—blown apart by helmsman loss and structural impact
- Modern rediscovery: None; underwater surveys confirm no intact remains south of Duluth entrance
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Guido Pfister |
| Official No. | 85,304 |
| Built | 1873, Manitowoc, WI (wooden schooner) |
| Tonnage | ~694 GRT / 661 NRT |
| Owner / Home Port | Buffalo, NY (Milwaukee owners) |
| Loss Date | 10 October 1885 |
| Location | South Pier, Duluth Ship Canal, Lake Superior |
| Cause of Loss | Lost towline → drifted into rocks → total wreck |
| Cargo (on final voyage) | Possibly corn or grain; loading info indicates corn-laden ships in region |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Rediscovery | None; remains removed during pier expansion |
Historical Context & Sources
- A North Shore shipwreck listing confirms Guido Pfister of 198 ft length, wrecked on the South Pier of the Duluth Ship Canal in October 1885
- A Great Lakes Drive article describes the final voyage and cause: “She was coasting into position behind a tug when the latter lost her towline and the PFISTER glided into the rocks, where she became a total loss.”
Remains were later excluded during pier construction and dynamited
Research Gaps & Further Avenues
Though core incident details are well established, several archival gaps remain:
- Crew and master identity, as well as fate after grounding
- Insurance claim values, possibly in Buffalo or Milwaukee underwriter files
- Tonnage and cargo logs confirming freight aboard (corn or grain) at time of loss
- Local newspaper accounts (Duluth News Tribune, Superior Weekly) from October 1885 may provide eyewitness details of the grounding and aftermath
Archival follow-up opportunities include:
- U.S. Bureau of Navigation records for enrollment, registry, and official tonnage of Guido Pfister
- Port and harbor logs at Duluth–Superior for incident and pier documentation
- Maritime preservation society or historical society archives for photographic or fragment records collected before dynamite works
Conclusion
Guido Pfister, a substantial 1873-built schooner, was lost on 10 October 1885 after losing tow control into the Duluth Ship Canal’s South Pier. Without crew fatalities reported, the vessel was ruined on impact and later completely cleared during infrastructural expansion. The incident exemplifies risks of towline failure in confined harbor entrances under Great Lakes conditions.
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