Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Servia (1898)

The Servia sank on April 27, 1898, after a fire during towing operations. All crew were rescued, but the wreck remains undiscovered in Lake Superior.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Servia
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
  • Year Built: 1888
  • Builder: F. Wheeler
  • Dimensions: Approximately 242 ft (73.8 m) in length × 40 ft beam × 18 ft depth; 1,425 GRT / 1,182 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,425 GRT / 1,182 NRT
  • Location: Off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
  • Coordinates: Exact coordinates unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled propeller steamer, single-deck, bulk freight carrier.

Description

The Servia was built in 1888 by F. Wheeler in West Bay City, MI, as a wooden-hulled propeller steamer designed for bulk freight transport across Lake Superior. It measured approximately 242 feet in length, 40 feet in beam, and had a depth of 18 feet.

History

Servia was part of F. Wheeler’s fleet from Bay City, servicing bulk freight trades across Lake Superior. The vessel was engaged in routine towing operations at the time of its loss, highlighting the collaborative nature of Great Lakes commercial shipping.

Significant Incidents

  • On April 27, 1898, while towing the disabled steamer Argonaut and the schooner Frank Ewen, a watchman’s painting-related accident sparked a fire aboard Servia.
  • The fire was exacerbated by gale-force winds, making containment impossible.
  • The crew evacuated, and all were successfully rescued by the Canadian passenger steamer Alberta.
  • Servia capsized and sank shortly after the crew abandoned ship.

Final Disposition

All crew from Servia, Argonaut, and Frank Ewen were successfully rescued by Alberta, with no fatalities reported. The Servia remains missing, with its exact location unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck likely lies overturned or disintegrated in situ in deep freshwaters off Whitefish Point. No archaeological or sonar surveys have been documented to locate the wreck.

Resources & Links

The steamer Servia met her fate on April 27, 1898, when a painting accident ignited a fire during towing operations near Whitefish Point, Lake Superior. A gale thwarted the crew’s firefighting efforts, leading to abandonment. Fortunately, rescue by Alberta saved all aboard before Servia capsized and sank. No casualties were recorded. The wreck remains undiscovered and undocumented—making it a valuable subject for Great Lakes maritime archaeology and industrial heritage.