Potomac – Niagara River Barge Shipwreck (1895)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: POTOMAC
• Type: Wooden propeller steamer, later converted to barge
• Year Built: 1855
• Builder: Luther Moses
• Dimensions: Length: 209.14 ft (63.77 m); Beam: 33.04 ft (10.07 m); Depth of hold: 12.43 ft (3.79 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 818 40/95
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3.79 m / 12.43 ft
• Location: Buckhorn Island, Niagara River, New York
• Official Number: 19618
• Original Owners: American Transportation Co.
• Number of Masts: Originally 2, later 3 when converted to barge

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller steamer, later converted to a barge. Initially used in the package freight and bulk trades across the Great Lakes.

Description

• Builder: Luther Moses
• Build Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Hull Material: Wood
• Decks: 1 (later converted to 2 during remeasurements)
• Masts: Originally 2, later 3 when converted to barge
• Propulsion: Twin-screw
• Engines: Two 25″ x 36″ engines by Buffalo Engineering Works (1855)
• Boiler: Firebox type, 17′ x 7.5′ or 6.5′ square (built 1853)
• Dimensions (original):
  • Length: 209.14 ft (63.77 m)
  • Beam: 33.04 ft (10.07 m)
  • Depth: 12.43 ft (3.79 m)
  • Tonnage (Old Style): 818 40/95
  • Capacity: 900 tons
• Remeasured (1865–66):
  • New Length: 210.6 ft (64.17 m)
  • Gross Tonnage (1866): 1,108.35 tons

History

• 1855, Oct 25: Enrolled and operated by the American Transportation Co., Buffalo, NY.
• 1856, Oct: Collision with brig JOHN G. DESHLER, Lake Michigan.
• 1860s: Changed ownership multiple times, operating largely on Lakes Erie and Michigan.
• 1860, Sep: Broke shaft near Milwaukee.
• 1861: Underwent large-scale repairs; based in Buffalo.
• 1865–66: Remeasured and rebuilt; tonnage significantly increased.
• 1877: Boilers replaced using units from the TONAWANDA (sank 1870).
• 1881–1883: Multiple groundings and accidents; notably near Erie, PA, and Ahnapee, WI.
• 1884: Sank at Buffalo but was recovered and repaired.
• 1885, Jun: Converted to a barge; simplified superstructure and modified rig.
• 1886–1893: Operated as a barge, towed by the ST. LOUIS.
• 1892, Oct: Final incident—struck pier at Sault Ste. Marie, sustaining stern damage.
• 1895: Declared unserviceable and abandoned at Buckhorn Island.
• 1899, Jun 30: Registration officially surrendered.

Final Disposition

POTOMAC was abandoned at Buckhorn Island in the Niagara River, following a prolonged career of conversions, collisions, and heavy use. By 1895, she had reached the end of her utility, with documents surrendered four years later.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No modern wreck site has been confirmed. Likely dismantled or rotted in shallow water or shoreline.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”potomac-us-19618″ title=”References & Links”]

The POTOMAC illustrates the typical lifecycle of a large wooden Great Lakes steamer: from early prominence in freight transport to eventual relegation as a tow-barge. Her history is punctuated by frequent repairs, ownership changes, and modifications reflecting economic and technological transitions on the inland seas. Though not a catastrophic wreck, her abandonment at Buckhorn Island marks the quiet end of a long and eventful career.