Queen City US 20519

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Queen City
• Type: wooden sidewheel steamer / steam tug
• Year Built: 1856
• Builder: Pringle, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: Length 118 ft (36 m); Beam 21 ft (6.4 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 177 tons
• Location: Near Ford River, Wisconsin
• Official Number: 20519

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Queen City was originally built as a wooden sidewheel steamer designed for passenger and package freight service. Around 1869, she was converted into a steam tug, reflecting a common practice of repurposing older passenger vessels for towing and utility work on the Great Lakes. Sidewheel steam tugs were essential in assisting larger vessels, towing barges, and supporting harbor operations.

Description

Built in 1856 by Pringle in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the Queen City was a 118-foot wooden sidewheel steamer. Initially, she served as a riverine passenger and freight vessel, operating on inland waterways and possibly making short trips on Lake Michigan. Her shallow draft of 6 feet made her well-suited for river navigation and harbor operations.

At some point around 1869, the Queen City was converted into a steam tug. This conversion would have involved removing passenger accommodations and reinforcing her structure for towing operations. The vessel was rebuilt in 1875, suggesting that she was in active service until her final loss.

History

Passenger and Freight Service (1856–1869): As a sidewheel passenger and package freight steamer, the Queen City operated on inland rivers and harbours around Lake Michigan. Vessels of this type were crucial for connecting towns along rivers and lakes, providing transportation for both people and goods.

Conversion to Steam Tug (circa 1869): By 1869, she was converted into a steam tug. This change would have allowed the Queen City to serve in harbor operations, towing barges, and assisting larger vessels. The conversion reflects a common trend in the Great Lakes maritime industry, where older vessels were repurposed for utility work.

Rebuild and Final Service (1875): The Queen City was rebuilt in 1875, indicating she was maintained for continued service. This likely included structural reinforcements and updates to her engine and sidewheel mechanisms. Her final role as a steam tug involved assisting in the shipping operations around Escanaba, a key port for the iron ore trade in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Significant Incidents

Final Disposition and Loss (1875): The Queen City caught fire while en route to Escanaba to lay up for the winter. The cause of the fire is unknown, but fires were a common hazard for wooden steam vessels, particularly as they aged and their structures became more susceptible to combustion.

The crew abandoned ship in the vessel’s yawl (a small lifeboat) and landed safely at Indiantown, Michigan, about 10 miles south of Escanaba. The Queen City burned to the waterline and was declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

The Queen City was destroyed by fire and sank near Ford River, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan. There are no records of the vessel being salvaged or recovered, and she was declared a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no known navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Queen City, though the exact location of the wreck near Ford River, Wisconsin, remains undocumented.

Resources & Links

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The Queen City, a wooden sidewheel steamer built in 1856 by Pringle of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, served various roles during her nearly two-decade career on the Great Lakes. Starting as a passenger and freight vessel, she was likely converted into a steam tug around 1869, supporting towing operations in the Lake Michigan region.

Her destruction by fire near Ford River, Wisconsin, in 1875 marked the end of a vessel that had adapted to the evolving demands of Great Lakes shipping. The safe evacuation of her crew and the vessel’s conversion history reflect both the challenges and innovations of 19th-century maritime operations on the Great Lakes.