Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sarah Smith
- Type: Wooden screw tug
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: F.W. Wheeler & Co.
- Dimensions: 75 ft × 17 ft × 5½ ft (22.9 m × 5.2 m × 1.7 m); 45 GRT / 30 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 45 GRT / 30 NRT
- Location: Off Minnesota Point, Lake Superior
- Official Number: 115920
- Original Owners: Peter Smith, L.S. Boutell
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Sarah Smith was a high-pressure steam screw tug powered by a 14″ × 16″ engine producing 180 hp at 130 rpm, built by Samuel F. Hodge Iron Works, Detroit. She featured a single boiler (5’6″ × 10′, 80 psi) constructed by Jho McKinnon & Co., Bay City. Adapted for harbour and near-shore towing, her build prioritized power and maneuverability for Great Lakes service beginning in 1883.
Description
On 18 August 1908, while operating near Minnesota Point in Lake Superior, Sarah Smith’s onboard stove overheated, igniting a fire that consumed her superstructure and severely compromised her hull. She was declared a total loss but sank without any reported injuries.
History
- 1883: Registered to Peter Smith, W. Bay City, MI, and entered service locally.
- 1895: Notably lost a log raft off Seul Choi x Point, Lake Michigan.
- 1899: Transferred ownership to L.S. Boutell of Bay City, MI.
- 1908: Reassigned operations on Lake Superior before her final incident.
Significant Incidents
- Fire on 18 August 1908 caused by an overheated stove, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
On 18 August 1908, while operating near Minnesota Point in Lake Superior, Sarah Smith’s onboard stove overheated, igniting a fire that consumed her superstructure and severely compromised her hull. She was declared a total loss but sank without any reported injuries.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal recovery or dive survey has been documented. Her remains likely lie submerged offshore Minnesota Point, unmarked but known from historical records.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sarah-smith-us-115920″ title=”References & Links”]
Built in 1883, Sarah Smith exemplified the sturdy screw tugs that aided Great Lakes commerce. Despite a long service life, she met her end in 1908—not from storm or collision, but from a fire triggered by operational overheating. Her loss underscores persistent fire hazards aboard steam-powered vessels. Though no physical remains have been mapped, her story continues in maritime archives.
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: Sarah Smith
- Official number: 115920 (internationalmaritimelibrary.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Year built: 1883 at West Bay City, Michigan, by F.W. Wheeler & Co.
- Vessel type: Wooden screw tug with single deck, hull #17
- Dimensions: 75 ft × 17 ft × 5½ ft (22.9 m × 5.2 m × 1.7 m); 45 GRT / 30 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Location of loss: Off Minnesota Point, Lake Superior
- Date: 18 August 1908
- Cause: Fire—caught from overheated stove; burned to total loss; no casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Construction
Sarah Smith was a high-pressure steam screw tug powered by a 14″ × 16″ engine producing 180 hp at 130 rpm, built by Samuel F. Hodge Iron Works, Detroit. She featured a single boiler (5′6″ × 10′, 80 psi) constructed by Jho McKinnon & Co., Bay City. Adapted for harbour and near-shore towing, her build prioritized power and maneuverability for Great Lakes service beginning in 1883.
History & Service Record
- 1883: Registered to Peter Smith, W. Bay City, MI, and entered service locally .
- 1895: Notably lost a log raft off Seul Choi x Point, Lake Michigan.
- 1899: Transferred ownership to L.S. Boutell of Bay City, MI.
- 1908: Reassigned operations on Lake Superior before her final incident.
Final Disposition
On 18 August 1908, while operating near Minnesota Point in Lake Superior, Sarah Smith’s onboard stove overheated, igniting a fire that consumed her superstructure and severely compromised her hull. She was declared a total loss but sank without any reported injuries (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Located By & Status
No formal recovery or dive survey has been documented. Her remains likely lie submerged offshore Minnesota Point, unmarked but known from historical records.
Notmar & Advisories
No Notices to Mariners specifically reference Sarah Smith’s wreck. Nevertheless, the Minnesota Point area can pose navigational and submerged hazard risks, particularly at night or in fog.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Sarah Smith entry with full technical details, fire loss, and rebuild notes (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
Built in 1883, Sarah Smith exemplified the sturdy screw tugs that aided Great Lakes commerce. Despite a long service life, she met her end in 1908—not from storm or collision, but from a fire triggered by operational overheating. Her loss underscores persistent fire hazards aboard steam-powered vessels. Though no physical remains have been mapped, her story continues in maritime archives.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Sarah Smith tug, Minnesota Point fire, 1908 steam tugwreck
- Categories: Wooden screw tugs, steam-fuelled vessel fires, early 20th-century Great Lakes losses
- Glossary:
- Screw tug: A tugboat propelled by a screw (propeller).
- High-pressure engine: Steam engine operating above low- or medium-pressure levels, delivering higher power.
- GRT/NRT: Gross and net register tonnage, denoting vessel volume capacity.