Sevona (Emily P. Weed)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Sevona
• Type: Steel-hulled Steam Screw Freighter
• Year Built: 1890
• Builder: F. W. Wheeler Shipyards, Bay City, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length 372 ft (114 m); Beam 41 ft (13 m); Depth of hold 24 ft (7.3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 3,166 GRT; 2,258 NRT
• Depth at Wreck Site: 6 m / 20 ft
• Location: Sand Island Shoal, Apostle Islands
• Coordinates: 47.0078, -90.9028
• Official Number: US #136129
• Original Owners: Pennsylvania Steamship Co. (initial), later under new management when renamed Sevona

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Sevona, originally launched as the Emily P. Weed in 1890, was a large steel-hulled freighter built at Bay City, Michigan. She carried bulk cargoes such as iron ore, grain, and package freight. Following modifications in 1904, she was lengthened and her tonnage increased. Notably, she carried one of the first electric searchlights used on a Great Lakes vessel, signaling a major modernization.

Description

The Sevona was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes shipping industry, known for her size and modern features. After her renaming in 1897, she continued to serve in the ore trade, transporting goods across Lake Superior and contributing to the economic activities of the region.

History

From 1890 to 1897, the vessel sailed as the Emily P. Weed. In 1897–98, she was renamed Sevona under new ownership. By 1904, the vessel underwent lengthening, tonnage increases, and lighting upgrades. She was engaged in the ore trade across Lake Superior, working from Allouez, Wisconsin, to eastern Great Lakes ports.

Significant Incidents

• On September 1, 1905, the Sevona departed Allouez with 6,000 tons of iron ore bound for Erie, Pennsylvania.
• Encountering a severe storm, Captain John McAlpine attempted to seek refuge in the Apostle Islands.
• On September 2, 1905, at approximately 6 a.m., she struck Sand Island Shoal and quickly broke in two.
• Seven lives were lost; 17 survivors reached shore by lifeboat or raft.
• The cargo, valued at $220,000, was lost.

Final Disposition

In 1909, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dynamited much of the wreck to remove hazards to navigation, after salvaging machinery and plating. The wreck was never “rediscovered” as its position was known from the time of sinking. Its remains are documented by the Wisconsin Historical Society and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Current Condition & Accessibility

A mooring buoy marks the site for divers. The wreck is protected under Wisconsin law and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; artifact removal is prohibited. Access is by boat from Little Sand Bay, approximately 4 miles away. The dive conditions are freshwater with visibility ranging from 15 to 40 ft, and the bottom is flat sandstone.

Resources & Links

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The Sevona’s wreck stands as a silent witness to the challenges of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes, where unpredictable weather and underwater hazards claimed numerous ships. Its remains, lying on Sand Island Shoal, provide an invaluable historical and diving site. The Sevona’s story underscores the resilience of early mariners and the evolution of shipbuilding, making it a cherished piece of Great Lakes heritage.