Shotline Diving

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Joe Smith C 138862 (The Moose US 203947)

Explore the remains of the Joe Smith, a wooden-hulled steam vessel lost to fire in 1926, located in Amethyst Harbor, Lake Superior.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Joe Smith (originally built as The Moose)
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam vessel
  • Year Built: 1907
  • Builder: Superior, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: 82 ft × 20 ft × 11 ft; approx. 145 tons (U.S. measurement: 98 GRT, 52 NRT)
  • Registered Tonnage: 145 tons
  • Location: Amethyst Harbor, Ontario
  • Official Number: C138862 (U.S. No. 203947)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled propeller steam vessel, configured for passenger and package freight service.

Description

The Joe Smith was part of a class of small propeller steamers intended as consorts to larger vessels, such as the schooners Nellie Mason and Mattie C. Bell, supporting the steamer C. H. Green.

History

Built in 1907 at Superior, Wisconsin, the Joe Smith likely engaged in short-distance freight and passenger services along the Lake Superior shoreline.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: May 22, 1926
  • Location: Amethyst Harbor, Ontario (Lake Superior)
  • Scenario: The Joe Smith was anchored in Amethyst Harbor when a fire broke out aboard, resulting in a total loss of the vessel.
  • Casualties: None reported; thankfully, no fatalities occurred in the blaze.

Final Disposition

The vessel burned completely while at anchor, and her remains presumably lie within Amethyst Harbor. The wreckage may consist of charred timbers and submerged machinery remains.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site has not been surveyed or documented by divers or archaeologists. There are no Notices to Mariners or buoys marking the wreck, and it remains uncharted, posing potential underwater hazards.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”joe-smith-c-138862-the-moose-us-203947″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of Joe Smith highlights the fire risks aboard wooden steam-powered vessels, even when moored. As a support vessel to larger steamers, she represents an often-overlooked segment of Great Lakes maritime infrastructure.

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.

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Joe Smith (originally built as The Moose)
  • Official No.: C138862 (U.S. No. 203947)
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam vessel, configured for passenger and package freight service
  • Built: 1907, at Superior, Wisconsin
  • Tonnage & Dimensions: 82 ft × 20 ft × 11 ft; approx. 145 tons (U.S. measurement: 98 GRT, 52 NRT) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Incident Details: Fire While at Anchor

  • Date of Loss: May 22, 1926
  • Location: Amethyst Harbor, Ontario (Lake Superior) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Scenario: Joe Smith was anchored in Amethyst Harbor. Her owner had gone ashore to inspect a nearby gravel beach when a fire broke out aboard. The vessel burned completely, resulting in a total loss.
  • Casualties: None reported — thankfully, no fatalities occurred in the blaze (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia).

Construction & Service

  • Part of a class of small propeller steamers intended as consorts to larger vessels (e.g., schooners Nellie Mason and Mattie C. Bell) that supported the steamer C. H. Green (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Likely engaged in short-distance freight and passenger services along the Lake Superior shoreline.

Wreck Site & Current Condition

  • The vessel burned in-situ at anchor; her remains presumably lie within Amethyst Harbor.
  • With a wooden hull fully consumed by fire, the wreckage may consist of charred timbers and submerged machinery remains.
  • There is no record of the site being surveyed or documented by divers or archaeologists.

Navigational Hazards & Warnings

  • No Notices to Mariners or buoys marking the wreck are known. The site remains uncharted and may pose unknown underwater hazards, particularly in shallow harbor waters.

References & Sources

Gaps & Suggestions for Further Research

TopicRecommended Research Steps
Builder & Ownership RecordsAccess registry files from Superior, WI; trace ownership history leading to 1926.
Fire Cause InvestigationCheck 1926 newspaper archives (Sault Star, Amethyst Harbor local press) for incident reports.
Wreck SurveyCommission a shallow-water dive or side-scan sonar mission in Amethyst Harbor to locate remains.
Machinery & EquipmentIf a survey locates the wreck, record surviving engine parts, boilers, or freight fittings.

Archaeological & Historical Significance

The loss of Joe Smith underscores the inherent fire risks aboard wooden steam-powered vessels—even when moored and unattended. As a support vessel to larger steamers, she represents an often-overlooked segment of Great Lakes maritime infrastructure. Her site could offer valuable insights into early 20th-century small-steamer technology, firefighting practices, and harbor operations on Lake Superior.

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