Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Yakima US 27630

Explore the history of the Yakima, a wooden bulk freighter lost in 1905 due to navigational error and fire, with no remains left to discover.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Yakima
  • Type: Propeller, wood, bulk freight
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Builder: Quayle & Son, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dimensions: 279 ft (85 m) x 41 ft (12.5 m) x 21 ft (6.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,986 GT
  • Location: Stag Island, St. Clair River
  • Official Number: 27630
  • Original Owners: J.C. Gilchrist, Detroit

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Yakima was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter designed for transporting bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal, and grain.

Description

The Yakima was constructed in 1889 by Quayle & Son of Cleveland, Ohio. At nearly 280 feet in length, she was among the larger wooden freighters of her era.

History

Owned by J.C. Gilchrist, a prominent shipping magnate, the Yakima was part of the Great Lakes trade during a time when wooden bulk carriers were being replaced by steel-hulled ships.

Significant Incidents

  • June 13, 1905: The Yakima ran aground near Stag Island due to navigational error.
  • A fire broke out before salvage efforts could be initiated, causing severe damage to the vessel.

Final Disposition

Despite the fire damage, the Yakima was refloated and dismantled rather than left as a wreck.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known remains of the Yakima exist, as she was salvaged and dismantled. There are no marked hazards associated with this vessel.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”yakima-us-27630″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The Yakima represents the transition from wooden to steel vessels in Great Lakes shipping, with her fate highlighting the challenges faced by wooden ships in the early 20th century.

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.

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Yakima
  • Official Number: 27630
  • Vessel Type at Loss: Propeller, wood, bulk freight
  • Builder: Quayle & Son, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Year Built & Launched: 1889
  • Specifications: 279 ft (85 m) x 41 ft (12.5 m) x 21 ft (6.4 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 1,986 GT
  • Net Tonnage: 1,658 NT
  • Date Lost: June 13, 1905
  • Location of Loss: Stag Island, St. Clair River
  • Lake: St. Clair River
  • Cause of Loss: Navigational error/fire
  • Loss of Life: None
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Iron ore

Vessel Description & History

The Yakima was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter constructed in 1889 by Quayle & Son of Cleveland, Ohio. She was designed for transporting bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal, and grain, which were the main cargoes of the Great Lakes trade during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The vessel was owned by J.C. Gilchrist of Detroit, a well-known shipping magnate of the time.

At nearly 280 feet in length, the Yakima was among the larger wooden freighters of her era. However, by the early 1900s, wooden bulk carriers were rapidly being replaced by larger, more durable steel-hulled ships, which were better suited to the demands of Great Lakes commerce.

Final Disposition

On June 13, 1905, while navigating near Stag Island in the St. Clair River, the Yakima strayed from the channel and ran aground. Before salvage efforts could free her, a fire broke out and severely damaged the vessel. The cause of the fire is not well documented, but fires were a common hazard aboard wooden steamers, often resulting from coal embers, boiler malfunctions, or accidental sparks.

Despite her extensive fire damage, the Yakima was later refloated and dismantled, rather than left as a wreck.

Located By & Date Found

No known remains exist of the Yakima, as she was salvaged and dismantled.

Notmars & Advisories

No known obstructions or marked hazards associated with this vessel remain.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Yakima was one of many wooden bulk freighters that met their demise in the early 20th century, a period that saw rapid technological changes in Great Lakes shipping. Although she was lost due to grounding and fire, her fate was less dramatic than many shipwrecks, as her remains were salvaged and dismantled rather than being left to deteriorate underwater.

yakima-us-27630 1905-06-13 07:55:00