Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John A. Paige
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Thrall, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 74 ft × 16 ft × 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 52 GT | 26 NT
- Location: Near Siskiwit River, off Cornucopia, Wisconsin
- Official Number: US 150215
- Original Owners: W. H. Singer, Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
Description
Built in 1881 in Green Bay, John A. Paige was a small but robust steam tug, purpose-built for inland water towing tasks common in the lumber and raft industries. Her compact size (74 ft length) made her nimble for river and lake applications.
History
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of loss: September 6, 1892
- Location: Near Siskiwit River, Lake Superior, off Cornucopia, Wisconsin
- Cargo/Activity: Assisting in assembling a large raft of sawlogs
- Incident detail: “She caught fire while assembling a large raft of sawlogs and was burned to a total loss. The fire was thought to have been due to an overheated boiler.”
- Casualties: None reported
- Crew actions: After reaching shore, the crew walked about 30 miles to Bayfield, Wisconsin.
Significant Incidents
- Fire incident leading to total loss of the vessel.
- Remarkable crew trek of 30 miles to safety after the incident.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the John A. Paige is considered a total loss and was abandoned after burning to the waterline. The burned hull remains likely sank to the lake bottom.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Wreck Site & Condition
- Wreck: Burned hull remains likely sank to lake bottom
- Site location: Off Siskiwit River mouth, near Cornucopia
- Condition: Burned to waterline; considered “total loss” and abandoned
- Notridge hazard: No navigation warning recorded; shallow water zone but likely dispersed debris
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-a-paige-us-150215″ title=”References & Links”]
The John A. Paige burned and sank on September 6, 1892, while engaged in log-rafting operations on Lake Superior. The incident caused no casualties, and her crew made a remarkable 30-mile trek to safety. While her burned remains were abandoned in situ, the site remains a promising candidate for remote sensing surveys.
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.
Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
Built: 1881 by Thrall, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Tonnage: 52 GT | 26 NT
Dimensions: 74′ × 16′ × 8′
Registry: U.S. (Sault Ste. Marie)
Owner: W. H. Singer, Chicago
Master: Captain D. Courlik (circa 1892)
(Wikipedia)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of loss: September 6, 1892
- Location: Near Siskiwit River, Lake Superior, off Cornucopia, Wisconsin
- Cargo/Activity: Assisting in assembling a large raft of sawlogs
- Incident detail: “She caught fire while assembling a large raft of sawlogs and was burned to a total loss. The fire was thought to have been due to an overheated boiler.”
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia) - Casualties: None reported
- Crew actions: After reaching shore, the crew walked about 30 miles to Bayfield, Wisconsin (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Profile & Service
Built in 1881 in Green Bay, John A. Paige was a small but robust steam tug, purpose-built for inland water towing tasks common in the lumber and raft industries. Her compact size (74 ft length) made her nimble for river and lake applications.
Wreck Site & Condition
- Wreck: Burned hull remains likely sank to lake bottom
- Site location: Off Siskiwit River mouth, near Cornucopia
- Condition: Burned to waterline; considered “total loss” and abandoned
- Notridge hazard: No navigation warning recorded; shallow water zone but likely dispersed debris
Sources & Documentation
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“P” section) provide build, loss, and crew survival details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Local period newspapers (Wisconsin, Michigan, Canadian border editions) likely reported:
- Sudden onshore fire and crew trek
- Fire suppression and rescue logistics
- Station logs of the U.S. Life-Saving Service at Siskiwit or Bayfield may document the crew’s overland journey and initial assistance
Next Steps for Research
- Newspaper Archives (Aug–Oct 1892):
- Bayfield County Press, Cornucopian, Superior Telegram, or Duluth News Tribune
- U.S. LSS Logbooks:
- Circa late 1892, stations near Bayfield, Houghton Harbor, or Cornucopia
- Archival Maritime Context:
- Lumber rafting logs or owner W.H. Singer’s business records
- Sonar Survey Program:
- Target area: Lake Superior off Siskiwit River (2–5 nm offshore), depths 30–80 ft
- Search for burned-mate debris scatter patterns; wooden hull fragments may still lie buried nearby
Conclusion
The John A. Paige burned and sank on September 6, 1892, while engaged in log-rafting operations on Lake Superior. The incident caused no casualties, and her crew made a remarkable 30-mile trek to safety. While her burned remains were abandoned in situ, the site remains a promising candidate for remote sensing surveys.
john-a-paige-us-150215 1892-09-06 12:46:00