Shamrock – Lake Superior Steamer Shipwreck (1905)

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.