Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS Lafayette
- Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1900
- Builder: American Shipbuilding Company
- Dimensions: Length: 454 ft (138.4 m); Beam: 50 ft (15.2 m); Depth: 28.5 ft (8.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 5,113 gross tons
- Location: Off Encampment Island, Lake Superior (near Two Harbors, MN)
- Coordinates: Approx. 47°05′36″N, 91°33′00″W
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Pittsburgh Steamship Company
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
SS Lafayette was a steel-hulled Great Lakes bulk freighter designed for iron ore and coal service. It was among the newer generation of large freighters launched at the turn of the 20th century and served under the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel.
Description
SS Lafayette was a steel-hulled Great Lakes bulk freighter designed for iron ore and coal service. It was among the newer generation of large freighters launched at the turn of the 20th century and served under the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel.
History
On 28 November 1905, during the infamous “Mataafa Storm,” the Lafayette was under tow with the barge Manila. In whiteout conditions and severe gale-force winds, both vessels were driven ashore near Encampment Island. Efforts to anchor Manila failed, and it struck Lafayette’s stern before drifting aground. The Lafayette also grounded and broke in two.
Significant Incidents
- 28 November 1905: SS Lafayette grounded during the Mataafa Storm, breaking in two.
- Casualty: Fireman Patrick Wade was killed during line transfer attempts.
Final Disposition
Lafayette was declared a total loss. Her stern section, including boilers and engines, was salvaged in 1906 and later installed in the steamer J.S. Ashley. The forward section was scrapped or lost. One fatality occurred when fireman Patrick Wade was killed during line transfer attempts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site has been known since the disaster. Salvage occurred in 1906. Some wreckage from the Lafayette may still exist nearshore off Encampment Island. However, the site is not suitable for standard diving due to shoreline hazards and poor visibility.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lafayette” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As you explore the history of the SS Lafayette, remember to respect the site and its surroundings. Leave only bubbles and take only memories, ensuring that the legacy of this vessel is preserved for future generations.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: —
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter
Builder: American Shipbuilding Company
Year Built: 1900
Dimensions: Length: 454 ft (138.4 m); Beam: 50 ft (15.2 m); Depth: 28.5 ft (8.7 m)
Tonnage: 5,113 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown (freight service)
Date of Loss: 28 November 1905
Location: Off Encampment Island, Lake Superior (near Two Harbors, MN)
Coordinates: Approx. 47°05’36″N, 91°33’00″W
Depth: Variable – remains in surf zone, some debris accessible
Home Port: Not specified
Owners: Pittsburgh Steamship Company
Crew: Unknown total; casualty count: 1
Casualties: 1 (Patrick Wade, fireman, Buffalo, NY)
Description
SS Lafayette was a steel-hulled Great Lakes bulk freighter designed for iron ore and coal service. It was among the newer generation of large freighters launched at the turn of the 20th century and served under the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel.
History
On 28 November 1905, during the infamous “Mataafa Storm,” the Lafayette was under tow with the barge Manila. In whiteout conditions and severe gale-force winds, both vessels were driven ashore near Encampment Island. Efforts to anchor Manila failed, and it struck Lafayette’s stern before drifting aground. The Lafayette also grounded and broke in two.
Final Disposition
Lafayette was declared a total loss. Her stern section, including boilers and engines, was salvaged in 1906 and later installed in the steamer J.S. Ashley. The forward section was scrapped or lost. One fatality occurred when fireman Patrick Wade was killed during line transfer attempts.
Located By & Date Found
Wreck site has been known since the disaster. Salvage occurred in 1906. Some wreckage from the Lafayette may still exist nearshore off Encampment Island.
Notmars & Advisories
Shoreline hazards; potential submerged debris. Not suitable for standard diving. No dive infrastructure.
Dive Information
Access: Shoreline (hazardous); not a recreational dive
Entry Point: Encampment Island shoreline (Minnesota)
Conditions: High surf, rocky bottom, poor visibility
Depth Range: Surf zone to 20+ ft
Emergency Contacts: USCG Duluth Sector
Permits: Not required
Dive Support: None onsite – expedition-style access only
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Patrick Wade (Buffalo, NY) died in the wreck. Further names not recorded. No known cemetery marker; mentioned in newspaper obituaries and Mataafa Storm memorial accounts.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Patrick Wade, a Buffalo fireman, was thrown into the icy lake by a tautened hawser. He was the only known victim of the Lafayette grounding.” — Duluth News Tribune, 1905
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Built 1900 by American Shipbuilding Co.; owned by Pittsburgh Steamship Co.; insured (specific policy unknown); salvage contract initiated early 1906.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Wreck photos exist from 1905 wreck site. Contemporary imagery of machinery salvage from 1906 is archived in Minnesota Historical Society collections. No modern 3D imaging is known.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Wikipedia – SS Lafayette (1900)
- Forgotten Minnesota – The Gales of November
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships
References
- Wikipedia: SS Lafayette (1900)
- Forgotten Minnesota: The Gales of November
- Duluth News Tribune archives (Nov 1905)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Approx. 47°05’36″N, 91°33’00″W
Depth: Variable, shallow surf to 20+ ft
Location Description: Encampment Island, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Steel bulk freighter
Material: Steel
Dimensions: 454 ft x 50 ft x 28.5 ft; 5,113 GRT
Condition: Broken, partially salvaged
Cause of Loss: Grounded in gale, broke in two
Discovery Date: 1905 (known wreck)
Discovered By: Immediate observers
Method: Shore observation / salvage
Legal Notes: Machinery salvaged; hull scrapped
Hazards: Submerged debris; wave exposure
Permits Required: Not required
You must be logged in to post a comment.