Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Missoula
• Type: Wooden-hulled bulk freight propeller steamer
• Year Built: 1887
• Builder: Quayle & Sons, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: 272 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft; 1,927 gross tons, 1,585 net tons
• Registered Tonnage: 1,927 gross tons
• Location: South shore of Caribou Island, Lake Superior
• Official Number: 91928
• Original Owners: Captain Thomas Wilson and partners

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A large wooden propeller steamer built for heavy freight, the Missoula was integral to late-19th-century bulk grain and freight movements. At over 1,900 gross tons, she was among the more substantial wooden freighters of her time.

Description

The Missoula was designed for transporting bulk commodities, particularly wheat, across the Great Lakes. Her wooden hull and propeller-driven design made her suitable for the heavy loads typical of the era.

History

Operated out of Cleveland and owned by Captain Thomas Wilson and partners, the Missoula hauled commodities like wheat across Lake Superior. On the evening of 22 November 1895, while riding low with her wheat cargo, she encountered a severe storm. A massive wave lifted her stern, snapping the propeller shaft. Immobile and helpless, the vessel drifted until grounding off Caribou Island on Lake Superior’s south shore.

Significant Incidents

• 22 November 1895: The Missoula encounters a severe storm, leading to a propeller shaft failure.
• The vessel drifts and grounds off Caribou Island, resulting in abandonment by the crew.

Final Disposition

Helpless after the shaft failure, the Missoula was abandoned by her crew. The hull was later destroyed by storm action, and although she was a total loss, all 16 crew members survived.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No modern archaeological discovery has been recorded at this time, but the wreck location—near Caribou Island—is publicly known and may be accessible to advanced divers. While not officially marked, the wreck site lies in relatively shallow waters near Caribou Island. Mariners and divers should exercise caution, especially during seasonal variations in lake conditions.

Resources & Links

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The Missoula‘s loss is a dramatic example of how mechanical failure in a storm can lead to disaster even without sinking in open water. Built as a large wheat freighter, her broken shaft left her adrift and vulnerable, leading to salvage abandonment off Lake Superior’s south shore. Her crew’s survival highlights both seamanship and the dangers of late-season Great Lakes voyages.