Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jos. Goldsmith
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, WI
- Dimensions: 82 ft (25 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 60 gross / 30 net tons
- Location: Toledo Harbor channel, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 76317
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jos. Goldsmith was a wooden propeller steam tug, primarily used for towing operations in harbor settings.
Description
Built in 1882 by Wolf & Davidson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Jos. Goldsmith measured 82 feet in length, with a beam of 18 feet and a depth of 8 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 60 gross tons and 30 net tons.
History
The tug served mainly in Toledo, Ohio, where it was engaged in towing dredges and barges within the harbor channel. Its operational history reflects the typical duties of harbor tugs during that era.
Significant Incidents
- Date: July 26, 1901
- Location: Toledo Harbor channel, Lake Erie
- Event: Caught in a severe squall while towing the dredge No. 2 near a crib in the straight channel
- Outcome: Both tug and dredge foundered
- Crew: Rescued — zero fatalities reported
- Aftermath: Wreckage remained in the channel and was struck two days later (July 28) by the heavily laden steamer Cadillac, causing further damage.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Jos. Goldsmith was likely removed after being labeled as abandoned in records by 1903, as it posed a navigational hazard in the Toledo Harbor channel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of the last records, the wreck is presumed salvaged or cleared, with no remaining structure visible in the harbor.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jos-goldsmith-us-76317″ title=”References & Links”]
The Jos. Goldsmith serves as a historical example of the risks associated with towage operations in harbor environments, particularly during sudden weather changes.
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: Jos. Goldsmith
- Official Number: 76317
- Built: 1882 by Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, WI
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Dimensions: 82 ft length × 18 ft beam × 8 ft depth
- Tonnage: 60 gross / 30 net tons (source)
Operational History
- Served primarily as a harbor and channel tug based in Toledo, OH
- Frequently towed dredges and barges within the harbor channel
Circumstances of Loss
- Date: July 26, 1901
- Location: Toledo Harbor channel, Lake Erie
- Event: Caught in a severe squall while towing the dredge No. 2 near a crib in the straight channel
- Outcome: Both tug and dredge foundered
- Crew: Rescued — zero fatalities reported
- Aftermath: Wreckage remained in the channel and was struck two days later (July 28) by the heavily laden steamer Cadillac, causing further damage (source)
Wreck Site & Condition
- Location: Toledo Harbor channel — likely removed after obstruction
- Condition: Wreck labeled “abandoned” in records by 1903; presumed salvaged or cleared due to navigational hazard
Significance & Context
- Illustrates risks of towage operations in harbor settings, especially sudden summer squalls
- Highlights the vulnerability of small towing vessels and dredges in tight navigable channels
- Mirrors common early 20th-century Great Lakes harbor accidents
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1882, Milwaukee, WI |
| Type | Wooden tug (propeller) |
| Tonnage | 60 gross / 30 net tons |
| Final Voyage | Foundered July 26, 1901 |
| Location | Toledo Harbor channel, Lake Erie |
| Cause | Squall during dredge tow |
| Crew | Rescued; no casualties |
| Wreck Status | Abandoned, likely cleared post-1903 |
Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: JOS. GOLDSMITH entry detailing build, dimensions, wreck, crew rescue, and subsequent collision with Cadillac (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Suggested Further Investigation
- Harbor Records: Toledo port authority logs from mid-1901 for salvage and clearance operations
- Local News: Toledo Blade and Toledo Times archives covering the squall, wreck, and collision events
- Map Surveys: Harbor navigation charts from the era may mark the wreck location and subsequent removal