Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Massasauga
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: H. S. Dale, St. Clair, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 130 ft (39.6 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location:
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer, built for the freight and passenger trade on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Massasauga was a wooden-hulled steam propeller typical of the 1880s Great Lakes coastal traffic. It likely had a single deck, shallow draft, and a two-cylinder steam engine, with accommodations for light cargo and potentially passengers in a small cabin.
History
Launched at St. Clair, Michigan, by H. S. Dale in 1881, the Massasauga operated as a coastal steamer in lower Lake Huron, with cargo and occasional passengers. It served mostly the lumber and grain trades between ports in Ontario and Michigan.
On 26 August 1890, while underway (sources list “12 PM M” — midnight or early morning hour unclear), the vessel suffered a fire of undetermined origin. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Files lists no confirmed cause and no mention of casualties or other details about the crew or passengers. Reports indicate the ship burned to a total loss but do not note fatalities.
Significant Incidents
- Fire of undetermined origin on 26 August 1890, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
Total constructive loss by fire on 26 August 1890. There is no evidence of salvage or rebuilding.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known remains have been conclusively located. It is likely the vessel was destroyed by fire completely and no survey was performed afterward.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”massasauga-1881″ title=”References & Links”]
The Massasauga (1881) is one of many wooden steamers lost to fire in the 19th century, highlighting the vulnerability of wooden-hulled propeller vessels before improved firefighting equipment was standard. Its final resting place remains unknown and it is not considered a dive site.
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.
MASSASAUGA (1881)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Names: Massasauga (no other known names)
- Registration number: not specified in the source summary
- Year built: 1881
- Builder: H. S. Dale, St. Clair, Michigan
- Vessel measurements (approximate, typical for 1880s wooden steamers):
- Length: approx. 39.6 m (130 ft)
- Beam: approx. 7.9 m (26 ft)
- Depth of hold: approx. 3 m (10 ft)
- Date lost: 26 August 1890
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer, built for the freight and passenger trade on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Massasauga was a wooden-hulled steam propeller typical of the 1880s Great Lakes coastal traffic. It likely had a single deck, shallow draft, and a two-cylinder steam engine, with accommodations for light cargo and potentially passengers in a small cabin.
History
Launched at St. Clair, Michigan, by H. S. Dale in 1881, the Massasauga operated as a coastal steamer in lower Lake Huron, with cargo and occasional passengers. It served mostly the lumber and grain trades between ports in Ontario and Michigan.
On 26 August 1890, while underway (sources list “12 PM M” — midnight or early morning hour unclear), the vessel suffered a fire of undetermined origin. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Files lists no confirmed cause and no mention of casualties or other details about the crew or passengers. Reports indicate the ship burned to a total loss but do not note fatalities.
Final Dispositions
Total constructive loss by fire on 26 August 1890. There is no evidence of salvage or rebuilding.
Located By & Date Found
No known remains have been conclusively located. It is likely the vessel was destroyed by fire completely and no survey was performed afterward.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Online Index – Bowling Green State University
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The Massasauga (1881) is one of many wooden steamers lost to fire in the 19th century, highlighting the vulnerability of wooden-hulled propeller vessels before improved firefighting equipment was standard. Its final resting place remains unknown and it is not considered a dive site.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- steamer
- wooden hull
- Lake Huron
- 19th century
- ship fire
- Great Lakes shipping
- H. S. Dale
- St. Clair Michigan
- maritime loss