Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R.J. GORDON
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller passenger vessel
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: A. Anderson in Marine City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 104 × 23 × 8 ft (31.7 × 7.0 × 2.4 m); 187 gross / 144 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 187 gross / 144 net tons
- Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 110504
- Original Owners: Ben Newman
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden-hulled propeller-driven passenger vessel typical of late-19th-century Great Lakes excursion and ferry boats, offering short-haul transport across Lake Michigan.
Description
Cutting-edge for its time, R.J. GORDON featured a single propeller and accommodations for passengers, offering efficient propulsion compared to sail or paddlewheel. At over 31 ft long and 7 ft wide, she was substantial enough for day excursions or ferry services.
History
Built in 1881 in Marine City, Michigan, she served as a passenger vessel in the Chicago region under owner Ben Newman. On 28 September 1899, a fire broke out while docked in a lakefront basin, consuming R.J. GORDON and the adjacent steamer Ivanhoe. Despite the destruction, all aboard escaped unharmed. The fire was severe enough to obliterate her structure.
Post-destruction, the hull was salvaged, rebuilt as a freighter in Grand Haven, and re-documented in 1900. She continued in service until being abandoned in 1916.
Significant Incidents
- Fire broke out on 28 September 1899 while docked, leading to total loss.
- No cargo aboard; no lives lost.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss by fire in Chicago Harbor in autumn 1899. Though rebuilt after salvage, her original 1881 passenger vessel incarnation ended with this blaze.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not applicable—the fire occurred dockside. The vessel was visibly destroyed and quickly dismantled. No underwater wreckage exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”r-j-gordon-us-110504″ title=”References & Links”]
The R.J. GORDON, a wooden propeller passenger vessel built in 1881, was destroyed by fire on 28 September 1899 in Chicago Harbor. The blaze consumed her completely, but the crew and any passengers escaped unharmed. The vessel was salvaged and reconstructed as a freighter the following year before her eventual abandonment in 1916.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R.J. GORDON
- Official Number: 110504 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Also Known As: None recorded
- Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled propeller passenger vessel
- Built: 1881 by A. Anderson in Marine City, Michigan
- Dimensions at Loss: 104 × 23 × 8 ft (31.7 × 7.0 × 2.4 m); 187 gross / 144 net tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date of Loss: 28 September 1899
- Location of Loss: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Cause of Loss: Fire — burned to total loss in a basin along the lake front, alongside the steamer Ivanhoe(greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo & Casualties: No cargo aboard; no lives lost
Vessel Type
A wooden-hulled propeller-driven passenger vessel typical of late-19th-century Great Lakes excursion and ferry boats, offering short-haul transport across Lake Michigan.
Description
Cutting-edge for its time, R.J. GORDON featured a single propeller and accommodations for passengers, offering efficient propulsion compared to sail or paddlewheel. At over 31 m long and 7 m wide, she was substantial enough for day excursions or ferry services.
History
Built in 1881 in Marine City, Michigan, she served as a passenger vessel in the Chicago region under owner Ben Newman. On 28 September 1899, a fire broke out while docked in a lakefront basin, consuming R.J. GORDON and the adjacent steamer Ivanhoe. Despite the destruction, all aboard escaped unharmed. The fire was severe enough to obliterate her structure (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Post-destruction, the hull was salvaged, rebuilt as a freighter in Grand Haven, and re-documented in 1900. She continued in service until being abandoned in 1916 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss by fire in Chicago Harbor in autumn 1899. Though rebuilt after salvage, her original 1881 passenger vessel incarnation ended with this blaze.
Located By & Date Found
Not applicable—the fire occurred dockside. The vessel was visibly destroyed and quickly dismantled. No underwater wreckage exists.
Notations & Advisories
- No maritime navigation hazards resulted from the loss.
- Initial documentation noted alongside the loss of Ivanhoe, but no long-term impacts.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry for R.J. GORDON detailing the incident and fate (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The R.J. GORDON, a wooden propeller passenger vessel built in 1881, was destroyed by fire on 28 September 1899 in Chicago Harbor. The blaze consumed her completely, but the crew and any passengers escaped unharmed. The vessel was salvaged and reconstructed as a freighter the following year before her eventual abandonment in 1916.
Suggested Follow-up
Would you like help locating:
- Chicago newspaper archives detailing the fire incident in September 1899?
- Records of her reconstruction and service as a freighter?
- Possible engineering plans or passenger manifests for her original design?