Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Pretoria
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1900
- Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 338.4 ft × 44 ft × 24 ft (103.1 m × 13.4 m × 7.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 2,790 gross; 2,715 net
- Depth at Wreck Site: 20 m / 65 ft
- Location: Near Outer Island, Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Approximate; protected site
- Official Number: 150872
- Original Owners: Davidson fleet interests
- Number of Masts: Three-mast schooner rig
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Pretoria was a wooden schooner-barge, designed for heavy cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Pretoria was one of the largest wooden vessels ever constructed, built by master shipbuilder James Davidson in 1900. Intended as a consort towed by a steel steamer, she represented the final technological peak of wooden ship construction on the Great Lakes. The barge carried iron ore, grain, and coal in bulk, with a carrying capacity exceeding 6,000 tons. Her three-mast schooner rig allowed auxiliary sail use if necessary.
History
When launched, the Pretoria was the largest wooden vessel in the world. Built specifically for the heavy ore and grain trade between Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Buffalo, New York, she was designed to maximize capacity while remaining towable by steam consorts.
Throughout her short career, she served under tow by several major steamers, including the Rappamannog (1900) and Sacramento (1901). Despite her immense size and cargo capacity, her wooden hull remained vulnerable under severe Great Lakes weather.
Significant Incidents
On 2 September 1905, the Pretoria was under tow by the steamer Venezuela with a cargo of iron ore. A gale struck near Outer Island in the Apostle Islands, breaking her towline. Left adrift in the storm, she foundered quickly.
Of her crew of 10 or 11, five perished when their yawl capsized near shore. Survivors reached land under dire conditions, highlighting the constant dangers of fall gales on Lake Superior.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss, the Pretoria sank near Outer Island. The wreck remains broken but partially intact at depths between 55 and 65 ft. Her remains illustrate both the scale and the limitations of wooden bulk carrier construction at the turn of the 20th century.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was rediscovered in the late 20th century and has since been documented by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society and 3DShipwrecks.org. The wreck is protected under Wisconsin historical preservation statutes. Divers may visit but artifact removal is prohibited. Strong currents and weather can create hazards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”pretoria-us-150872″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the Pretoria is by boat, with conditions including cold water, occasional strong surge, and variable visibility. The wreck serves as a reminder of the maritime history of the Great Lakes and the challenges faced by wooden vessels.
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.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: —
Official Number: 150872
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge
Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan
Year Built: 1900
Hull Number: 93
Dimensions: 338.4 ft × 44 ft × 24 ft (103.1 m × 13.4 m × 7.3 m)
Tonnage: 2,790 gross; 2,715 net
Capacity: 5,500–6,000 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Iron ore
Date of Loss: 2 September 1905
Location: Near Outer Island, Apostle Islands, Lake Superior
Coordinates: Approximate; protected site
Depth: 55–65 ft (17–20 m)
Home Port: Likely Chicago, Illinois
Owners: Davidson fleet interests
Crew: 10–11
Casualties: 5
Description
The Pretoria was one of the largest wooden vessels ever constructed, built by master shipbuilder James Davidson in 1900. Intended as a consort towed by a steel steamer, she represented the final technological peak of wooden ship construction on the Great Lakes. The barge carried iron ore, grain, and coal in bulk, with a carrying capacity exceeding 6,000 tons. Her three-mast schooner rig allowed auxiliary sail use if necessary.
History
When launched, the Pretoria was the largest wooden vessel in the world. Built specifically for the heavy ore and grain trade between Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Buffalo, New York, she was designed to maximize capacity while remaining towable by steam consorts.
Throughout her short career, she served under tow by several major steamers, including the Rappamannog (1900) and Sacramento (1901). Despite her immense size and cargo capacity, her wooden hull remained vulnerable under severe Great Lakes weather.
Final Voyage and Sinking
On 2 September 1905, the Pretoria was under tow by the steamer Venezuela with a cargo of iron ore. A gale struck near Outer Island in the Apostle Islands, breaking her towline. Left adrift in the storm, she foundered quickly.
Of her crew of 10 or 11, five perished when their yawl capsized near shore. Survivors reached land under dire conditions, highlighting the constant dangers of fall gales on Lake Superior.
Final Dispositions
Declared a total loss, the Pretoria sank near Outer Island. The wreck remains broken but partially intact at depths between 55 and 65 ft. Her remains illustrate both the scale and the limitations of wooden bulk carrier construction at the turn of the 20th century.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was rediscovered in the late 20th century and has since been documented by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society and 3DShipwrecks.org.
Notmars & Advisories
Protected under Wisconsin historical preservation statutes. Divers may visit but artifact removal is prohibited. Strong currents and weather can create hazards.
Dive Information
Access: Boat
Entry Point: Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Conditions: Cold water, occasional strong surge, variable visibility
Depth Range: 55–65 ft (17–20 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Bayfield; Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Rangers
Permits: Diving permitted, artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Local Apostle Islands dive charters
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Five crew perished when their yawl capsized. Names are preserved in local newspaper reports and memorialized through GLSPS interpretive materials. Further genealogical research is possible via Find A Grave and FamilySearch.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Pretoria was hailed as the largest wooden vessel afloat when launched in 1900. Her loss just five years later signaled the twilight of the wooden bulk carrier era.” — Contemporary maritime reports, 1905
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 150872. Built at West Bay City under hull no. 93. Enrolled as a consort barge for Davidson interests. Insurance claims recorded her as a total constructive loss in September 1905.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck has been extensively photographed and modeled in 3D by maritime preservation groups. Structural remains include hull timbers, fittings, and collapsed deck sections.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society
- 3DShipwrecks.org – Pretoria
References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society – Pretoria documentation
- Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (1905 casualty records)
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: —
Official Number: 150872
Coordinates: Near Outer Island, Apostle Islands
Depth: 55–65 ft (17–20 m)
Location Description: Outer Island, Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 338.4 ft × 44 ft × 24 ft
Condition: Broken, partially intact
Cause of Loss: Gale, broke towline
Discovery Date: Rediscovered late 20th century
Discovered By: Local divers, GLSPS
Method: Dive exploration and survey
Legal Notes: Protected under Wisconsin and federal heritage laws
Hazards: Cold water, currents, fragile wreckage
Permits Required: Yes (artifact removal prohibited)