Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R.G. Stewart
- Type: Wooden propeller steamship (passenger and freight)
- Year Built: 1878
- Builder: Not conclusively documented (records suggest a midwestern yard)
- Dimensions: Approx. 40–50 m (130–160 ft) typical of passenger steamers of that era (precise measurements not confirmed)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: About 1 mile east of the lighthouse, Lake Michigan (near Manitowoc, Wisconsin)
- Official Number: Not traced in available registers
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The R.G. Stewart was a wooden-hulled, single-screw propeller steamship typical of the late 19th century, designed to move passengers, livestock, and light freight between Lake Michigan ports. These vessels featured:
- Compound or simple steam engines
- Wood-fired boilers
- Upper passenger decks
- Cattle pens on deck or in converted cargo holds
Description
Wooden steamers like R.G. Stewart were rugged but highly flammable. Construction featured heavy oak frames, pine planking, and multiple wooden deckhouses. Boiler placement below deck or in midships made them vulnerable to fire, a common cause of loss for steamers in that period.
History
The R.G. Stewart was launched in 1878 and served in regional trade across Lake Michigan, carrying general merchandise, cattle, and seasonal passengers. By the 1890s, she was a routine carrier to smaller Wisconsin ports.
On June 4, 1899, while underway near Manitowoc, she ran aground about 1 mile east of the lighthouse. As efforts were made to free her, a fire broke out in the boiler room, rapidly spreading through the wooden superstructure. Despite efforts to fight the flames, the fire consumed the vessel. Of the 12 people aboard (passengers and crew), 1 person perished. The cattle cargo was lost, and the ship burned to a total wreck.
Significant Incidents
- June 4, 1899: The R.G. Stewart ran aground near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, leading to a fire in the boiler room that resulted in the total loss of the vessel.
Final Disposition
Total constructive loss after fire. Wreckage later washed away or scattered; no significant salvage reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern survey of the wreck site is documented. Most likely scattered in shallow water with no substantial remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”r-g-stewart-1878″ title=”References & Links”]
The R.G. Stewart demonstrates the hazards faced by wooden steamships: vulnerable to grounding, mechanical failure, and catastrophic fire. This tragic loss was sadly typical of the period before stricter fire safety and hull compartmentalization standards.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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