Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Kakabeka
- Type: Wooden steam barge
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 74.94 gross tons
- Location: Sand Island, Lake Superior
- Official Number: Not listed
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden steam barge
Description
The Kakabeka was a small, wooden-hulled steam barge used in the late 19th century, likely for regional freight or timber transport on inland Canadian and American waters. With a gross tonnage of just under 75, it was among the more modest-sized vessels operating on Lake Superior. Construction details, propulsion specifics, and service configuration remain undocumented.
History
Registered in Winnipeg, the Kakabeka operated during a transitional period on the Great Lakes when sail and steam power coexisted. It would have navigated challenging northern routes, likely servicing ports along the Thunder Bay corridor, and may have worked under seasonal timber or general cargo contracts. Unfortunately, historical documentation about its voyages, ownership, or shipbuilder has not survived or been digitized. No records have been found suggesting earlier incidents or rebuilds.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel broke loose from its moorings at Sand Island on December 12, 1895.
- No fatalities were reported.
- No wreckage has been confirmed found.
Final Disposition
The vessel broke loose from its moorings at Sand Island on December 12, 1895. Whether this was due to weather, ice pressure, or insufficient securing measures is unknown. The event likely occurred during early winter operations or layup season, a common time for vessels to suffer damage in shifting pack ice or rising winds.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No confirmed archaeological location or survey of the Kakabeka wreck has been published. Its current condition or whether remains exist submerged or alongshore is unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”kakabeka” title=”References & Links”]
The Kakabeka is an example of the many modestly sized working vessels of Lake Superior whose complete histories have faded into obscurity. With limited surviving records and no confirmed wreck site, it highlights the challenges of maritime archaeology in remote freshwater regions like the Apostle Islands. Sand Island remains a location of significant nautical heritage, with this 1895 loss adding to its quiet historical depth.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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