Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Stephen A. Douglas
- Type: Propeller steam tug
- Year Built: Likely mid- to late-1850s
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Shelldrake, Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior
- Official Number: Not found
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden propeller-driven steam tug designed for towing barges and assisting vessels, typical of mid–19th-century Great Lakes harbor and coastal operations.
Description
The Stephen A. Douglas was engaged in towing operations and was assisting the schooner Nellie Torrent. Around 15 October 1862, amid storm conditions, she broke free and was driven ashore near Shelldrake dock in Whitefish Bay. The tug became stranded and pounded against shore structures. A wrecking tug—possibly Leviathan—attempted salvage, pulled her off, and installed pumps; however, during her intended tow to Milwaukee, a pump failed and the tug took on water and sank in deep water.
History
The Stephen A. Douglas was involved in the transportation and towing of vessels on the Great Lakes. Her operational history reflects the challenges faced by steam tugs in the mid-19th century, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
Significant Incidents
- Assisted the schooner Nellie Torrent during towing operations.
- Driven ashore during a storm on 15 October 1862.
- Attempted salvage by a wrecking tug, which ultimately failed due to pump malfunction.
Final Disposition
Following the pump failure during the open-lake tow, the Stephen A. Douglas sank in deep water, likely losing all onboard. Her official status is that of a total loss, with no salvage recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern rediscovery has been documented. Her stern wreckage is presumed lying somewhere between Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee in deep water, with coordinates unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”stephen-a-douglas-pre-1850″ title=”References & Links”]
The Stephen A. Douglas was driven ashore during a towing operation in mid-October 1862 amidst a storm in Whitefish Bay. Though briefly salvaged, she later sank when pump systems failed while being towed. Though her exact resting spot is uncharted, her story underscores the hazards of early steam towing and the volatility of mid–19th-century Great Lakes weather.
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: Stephen A. Douglas
- Former Names: None recorded
- Official Number: Not found
- Date Built & Launched: Likely mid- to late-1850s, steamer
- Type: Propeller steam tug
- Cargo at Loss: Not documented (towing)
- Crew at Loss: None reported
- Date Lost: Early October 1862 (around 15 October) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, jagworks.southalabama.edu)
- Place of Loss: Near Shelldrake, Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A wooden propeller-driven steam tug designed for towing barges and assisting vessels, typical of mid‑19th-century Great Lakes harbor and coastal operations.
Description & History
The Stephen A. Douglas was engaged in towing operations and was assisting the schooner Nellie Torrent. Around 15 October 1862, amid storm conditions, she broke free and was driven ashore near Shelldrake dock in Whitefish Bay. The tug became stranded and pounded against shore structures. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com) A wrecking tug—possibly Leviathan—attempted salvage, pulled her off, and installed pumps; however, during her intended tow to Milwaukee, a pump failed and the tug took on water and sank in deep water. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Disposition
Following the pump failure during the open-lake tow, the Stephen A. Douglas sank in deep water, likely losing all onboard. Her official status is that of a total loss, with no salvage recorded.
Located By & Date Found
No modern rediscovery has been documented. Her stern wreckage is presumed lying somewhere between Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee in deep water, with coordinates unknown.
Notations & Advisories
No navigational markers exist relating to the wreck. The site lies away from shallow channels and poses no known hazard.
Conclusion
The Stephen A. Douglas was driven ashore during a towing operation in mid-October 1862 amidst a storm in Whitefish Bay. Though briefly salvaged, she later sank when pump systems failed while being towed. Though her exact resting spot is uncharted, her story underscores the hazards of early steam towing and the volatility of mid‑19th-century Great Lakes weather.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: steam tug, tow mishap, Shelldrake grounding, Whitefish Bay wreck, mid‑19th-century tugboat disaster
Suggested Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks | Lake Superior tow losses | steam tug disasters