Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Shamrock US 46229 (John W. Hannaford)

Explore the tragic wreck of the Shamrock, a wooden propeller vessel lost in a collision in 1905, located in the St. Marys River channel.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Shamrock
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller vessel—passenger & package freight configuration
  • Year Built: 1875
  • Builder: St. Clair, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: null
  • Location: Approximately 2 miles above the St. Marys River Ship Canal
  • Coordinates: null
  • Official Number: 46229
  • Original Owners: null
  • Number of Masts: null

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled propeller vessel designed for passenger and package freight service, operating primarily in the Great Lakes region.

Description

The Shamrock, originally named John W. Hannaford, was built in 1875 and underwent a conversion or renaming in 1904. It served in regional passenger and package freight service, likely shuttling between Great Lakes ports.

History

After its conversion in 1904, the Shamrock operated under new ownership as a propeller vessel. It was involved in a tragic collision on the evening of September 5, 1905, while exiting the ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie.

Significant Incidents

  • Incident Details: On the evening of 5 September 1905, Shamrock cut across the bow of the steamer W.C. Richardson while both vessels were exiting the ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie (Superior), triggering a fatal collision.
  • Impact: Shamrock was rammed, sank rapidly, and capsized; three of her six onboard died.
  • Casualties: Master Captain Charles Roussian and two crew members lost their lives; the other three survived.
  • Outcome: W.C. Richardson was later found not at fault.

Final Disposition

The wreck occurred in the St. Marys River channel, approximately 2 miles above the canal, likely in shallow waters. No modern site rediscovery or technical dive record is available; the wreck rests at or near the riverbed amid strong currents.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is currently no known documentation of the wreck site, and it remains uncharted. Ongoing surveys, including potential side-scan sonar or ROV mapping, may help locate the remains in the St. Marys channel.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”shamrock-us-46229-john-w-hannaford” title=”References & Links”]

The Shamrock tragedy highlights the perils of channel navigation during dense traffic at the canal entrance. Scrutinizing collision reports and archival accounts will illuminate surviving crew, fault findings, and canal traffic hazards of the era.

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.

Propeller – Built 1897, Lost September 5, 1905)

Identification & Ship Info

  • Name: Shamrock (renamed from John W. Hannaford in 1904)
  • Official No.: 46229
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller vessel—passenger & package freight configuration
  • Built: 1875 at St. Clair, Michigan; converted or renamed in 1904
  • Lost: 5 September 1905, two miles above the St. Marys River Ship Canal (entering or exiting Superior)
    (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Experian, Wikipedia)

Purpose & Description

Operated in regional passenger/package freight service—likely shuttling between Great Lakes ports. After conversion in 1904, Shamrock functioned as a propeller vessel under new ownership.

Collision & Casualties

  • Incident Details: On the evening of 5 September 1905, Shamrock cut across the bow of the steamer W.C. Richardson while both vessels were exiting the ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie (Superior), triggering a fatal collision
  • Impact: Shamrock was rammed, sank rapidly, and capsized; three of her six onboard died
  • Casualties: Master Captain Charles Roussian and two crew members lost their lives; the other three survived
  • Outcome: W.C. Richardson was later found not at fault
    (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Disposition & Site Info

  • The wreck occurred in the St. Marys River channel, approximately 2 miles above the canal—likely in shallow waters
  • No modern site rediscovery or technical dive record available; the wreck rests at or near the riverbed amid strong currents

Further Research & Documentation

  • Official Inquiries: Uncover U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service findings on fault and safety recommendations
  • Newspaper Archives: Review Soo Evening News or Soo Morning News in early September 1905 for collision accounts, crew lists, and rescue narratives
  • Canal Records: Army Corps or canal authority may hold logs on vessel accidents at the canal entrance
  • Ongoing Surveys: Potential for side-scan sonar or ROV mapping to locate remains in the St. Marys channel

Conclusion

The Shamrock tragedy highlights the perils of channel navigation during dense traffic at the canal entrance. Scrutinizing collision reports and archival accounts will illuminate surviving crew, fault findings, and canal traffic hazards of the era.

Would you like assistance locating official reports, period newspaper clippings, or arranging a sonar survey to pinpoint the wreck site?

shamrock-us-46229-john-w-hannaford 1905-09-05 21:10:00