Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Premier
- Type: Wooden freighter or barge
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: At her dock on the Great Lakes
- Original Owners: Not recorded; registration details unavailable
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden freighter or barge—likely engaged in hauling bulk trade or package freight.
Description
The Premier was a wooden vessel built around 1888. At the time of her loss, she was moored at a dock on the Great Lakes.
History
The Premier was involved in trade on the Great Lakes, although specific details about her service history and ownership remain largely undocumented.
Significant Incidents
- On November 13, 1920, while moored at dock, the Premier caught fire under unclear circumstances. The blaze rapidly consumed the vessel, leading to her destruction.
- No casualties were reported; crew and dock personnel survived the incident.
- After the fire, the wreck was not salvaged for operational reuse and was officially struck from service.
Final Disposition
The vessel was deemed a total loss and removed from the registry following the fire. No physical remains have been documented or identified in modern underwater or maritime records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Due to the fire occurring at dock, it is likely that any physical remains of the Premier were dismantled or scrapped, and no underwater wreckage survives.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”premier-1888″ title=”References & Links”]
The Premier was a wooden Great Lakes vessel that caught fire while docked on November 13, 1920, resulting in complete destruction. While there were no casualties, details about her ownership, size, cargo, and port location remain unknown.
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 1888; lost November 13, 1920)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Premier
- Approximate Build Year: 1888
- Vessel Type: Wooden freighter or barge—likely engaged in hauling bulk trade or package freight
- Cargo at Loss: Not reported—presumed none
- Loss Date: November 13, 1920
- Loss Location: At her dock on the Great Lakes (likely a port or shipyard)
- Ownership: Not recorded; registration details unavailable
Circumstances of Loss
- While moored at dock, the Premier caught fire under unclear circumstances. The blaze rapidly consumed the vessel, and she was destroyed in place.
- No casualties were reported in the incident—crew and dock personnel survived.
- After the fire, the wreck was not salvaged for operational reuse and was officially struck from service.
Final Disposition
- The vessel was deemed a total loss and removed from the registry following the fire.
- No physical remains have been documented or identified in modern underwater or maritime records.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Premier |
| Built | ca. 1888 |
| Vessel Type | Wooden freighter/steamer |
| Cargo | Not recorded (probably none) |
| Loss Date | November 13, 1920 |
| Loss Location | Dock on Great Lakes |
| Cause | Fire while berthed |
| Crew & Casualties | None reported |
| Final Status | Burned; total loss |
| Wreck Located | No |
Notes & Research Potential
- Documentation limitations: Official registry number, owner identity, port location, and cause of fire are not provided in the primary indexed summary.
- Newspaper archives: Local newspapers from November 1920 in major Great Lakes ports (e.g. Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee) may include incident reports or dockyard fire coverage.
- Port authority logs or insurance filings: Harbor records from 1920 might shed light on ownership, dock conditions, and post‑fire administrative handling.
- Physical remains: Since the fire occurred at dock, physical remains may have been dismantled or scrapped; likely no underwater wreckage survives.
Conclusion
Premier was a wooden Great Lakes vessel built around 1888 that caught fire while docked on November 13, 1920, and was completely destroyed. There were no casualties, but details about her ownership, size, cargo, and port location remain unknown. Her destruction was noted in the shipwreck files but did not lead to a recorded wreck site.
premier-1888 1920-11-13 20:29:00