Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Pittsburg
- Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter
- Year Built: circa 1871
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location:
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Bulk Freighter
Description
The Pittsburg was a wooden bulk freighter built circa 1871. It was designed for transporting bulk cargoes across the Great Lakes.
History
The vessel had a service history typical of wooden freighters of its time, operating primarily in the Great Lakes region.
Significant Incidents
- Incident: Burdened with no cargo (“light”), the vessel caught fire at her lay-up dock—likely in a port such as Chicago or Detroit.
- Consequence: The fire consumed her fully, and she was burned to a total loss while still moored.
- Outcome: Sunk at her berth, no crew were aboard, so no casualties were reported.
Final Disposition
The Pittsburg was declared a total loss after the fire, which occurred while the vessel was moored. The exact port of the incident remains uncertain.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Pittsburg is not accessible for diving due to its location and the nature of its loss.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”pittsburg-1871″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research is needed to confirm the exact port and circumstances of the loss, as well as to locate any archival records related to the incident.
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.
Pittsburg (Wooden Bulk Freighter, circa 1871; lost August 13, 1903)
- Incident: Burdened with no cargo (“light”), the vessel caught fire at her lay-up dock—likely in a port such as Chicago or Detroit.
- Consequence: The fire consumed her fully, and she was burned to a total loss while still moored.
- Outcome: Sunk at her berth, no crew were aboard, so no casualties were reported.
Questions & Next Steps
- Confirmation of Port & Exact Loss Date
Identifying the exact city where the incident occurred would narrow archive searches considerably. - Newspaper Coverage (Aug 1903)
Local papers like Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, or Buffalo Courier may have reported the blaze or dockyard fire. - Registry or Hull Records
U.S. registry logs and insurance filings could confirm the vessel’s build history, owner, and official fate. - Harbor or Tender Logs
Fire department selections or dock logs might still exist for that specific incident.