Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Otego (renamed from City of St. Catharines in 1883)
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: J. P. Abbey at Port Robinson, Ontario
- Dimensions: 139 ft × 26 ft × 13 ft; approx. 334 gross / 228 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 334 gross / 228 net tons
- Location: Green Bay, WI
- Official Number: 155075
- Original Owners: Smith-Fee Co., Duluth
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Otego was a wooden propeller steamer, originally built in 1874 and later renamed from City of St. Catharines in 1883. It was primarily used for commercial transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Otego measured 139 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 13 feet. It had a registered tonnage of approximately 334 gross tons and 228 net tons. The vessel was constructed by J. P. Abbey at Port Robinson, Ontario.
History
The Otego served various routes, primarily operating out of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and was owned by the Smith-Fee Company of Duluth. The vessel had a notable service history, including a stranding incident just a week prior to its loss.
Significant Incidents
- Stranding Incident: A week before the fire, the Otego was stranded on Whaleback Shoal alongside the schooner Red, White & Blue.
- Fire Incident: On 17 October 1895, while loading ballast at the Winona & St. Paul Railroad dock, the Otego caught fire, leading to its drifting downstream and striking the Mason Street Bridge, which also caught fire.
- Casualties: One life was lost in the fire, with injuries reported among crew and dock workers.
Final Disposition
The Otego burned to a total loss. Its machinery was salvaged around 1900, but the hull was deemed too damaged to be rebuilt and is presumed lost permanently.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern archaeological remains of the Otego have been documented. The wreck site is not accessible for diving due to its condition and location.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”otego-us-155075-city-of-st-catharines” title=”References & Links”]
The Otego represents a significant piece of maritime history in the Great Lakes region, with its loss highlighting the dangers faced by vessels during that era. Further research may uncover more details about its service and the circumstances surrounding its tragic end.
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.
(built 1874 – destroyed 17 October 1895)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Otego (renamed from City of St. Catharines in 1883)
- Official Number: 155075
- Build Details: Constructed in 1874 by J. P. Abbey at Port Robinson, Ontario
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Dimensions: 139 ft × 26 ft × 13 ft; approx. 334 gross / 228 net tons
- Home Port: Green Bay, Wisconsin (later owned by Smith‑Fee Co., Duluth) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Final Voyage & Incident
- Date of Loss: 17 October 1895
- Location: At the Winona & St. Paul Railroad dock in Green Bay, WI
- The Otego caught fire while loading ballast at the dock. Flames spread rapidly, causing her to break free and drift downstream until she struck the Mason Street Bridge, which also caught fire. Ultimately, she burned to a total loss. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: One life lost in the conflagration; crew and dock workers caught or suffered injury. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical Context & Pre-Incident Notes
- Just a week prior to the fire, the Otego had been stranded on Whaleback Shoal, in tandem with the schooner Red, White & Blue (her consort vessel) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Her machinery was later raised around 1900 and towed back to Green Bay; however, the hull remained too badly damaged to be rebuilt. Otego is presumed lost permanently. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Otego (ex–City of St. Catharines) |
| Official Number | 155075 |
| Built | 1874, Port Robinson, Ontario |
| Size | 139×26×13 ft; ~334 GRT / 228 NRT |
| Type | Wooden propeller-driven steamer |
| Loss Date | 17 October 1895 |
| Loss Location | Green Bay, WI: Winona & St. Paul RR dock |
| Cause of Loss | Fire at dock → drifted → burned to total loss |
| Casualties | 1 life lost |
| Pre-loss Incident | Stranded on Whaleback Shoal a week earlier |
| Machinery Salvaged | Yes (raised in 1900), hull unsalvageable |
Research Gaps & Further Paths
- Master’s name, exact vessel registration ownership, and manifest remain unspecified
- Local newspaper archives (Green Bay Press‑Gazette, Winona Sentinel) from mid‑October 1895 may contain eyewitness accounts, identity of the deceased crew/risk zones, or dock facility impact
- Railroad archives of Winona & St. Paul RR Line may include cargo and docking logs pertaining to the fire
- Insurance and underwriters’ records are likely to contain loss valuation and claims documentation following the blaze
Conclusion
Otego was a substantial wooden steamer originally built in 1874, renamed in 1883, and operated out of Green Bay and Duluth under the ownership of the Smith‑Fee Co. On 17 October 1895, she caught fire while moored at the railroad dock in Green Bay. The blaze led her to sever her moorings and drift downstream, colliding with and igniting the Mason Street Bridge, before burning to a total wreck. One life was lost in the fire; crew and bystanders were injured but mostly escaped.
Her machinery was salvaged in 1900, but the hull of Otego remained unrecoverable. No modern archaeological remains have been documented.
Let me know if you’d like help constructing specific searches for local news from 1895, railroad company archives, or insurance loss records to uncover ownership, crew identities, or technical details.
otego-us-155075-city-of-st-catharines 1895-10-17 15:52:00