Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Yonkers
• Type: Unrigged barge, self-unloading bulk freight and construction
• Year Built: 1879
• Builder: Thomas Quayle, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: 264 ft (80.5 m) x 37 ft (11.3 m) x 16 ft (4.9 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,209 GT
• Location: At Ashtabula, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Official Number: 91150

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Yonkers was an unrigged barge designed for self-unloading bulk freight and construction purposes.

Description

Originally launched as the steamer Milwaukee in 1879, the vessel was built by Thomas Quayle of Cleveland, Ohio, a prominent Great Lakes shipbuilder known for producing both steamers and sailing vessels. The ship was initially designed as a package freighter, likely transporting manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and other mixed cargo between ports on the Great Lakes.

In 1902, she was converted from a package freighter to a bulk freighter and renamed Yonkers. This refit allowed her to carry larger volumes of commodities such as coal, iron ore, or grain. By 1911, she underwent another major modification, removing her engines and converting her into an unrigged barge, meaning she would now rely on tugs for propulsion. This was a common practice for older steamers as a way to extend their usefulness after their machinery became obsolete.

History

On October 4, 1917, the Yonkers was under tow when she stranded on a sandbar near Ashtabula, Ohio. At the time, she was carrying bulk freight, though specific details on her cargo remain unclear.

Unable to be immediately freed, she was left in place with the expectation that salvage efforts would resume in the spring of 1918. However, over the winter, exposure to the elements severely damaged her hull, rendering her unsalvageable.

By June 5, 1918, the abandoned hulk caught fire and was destroyed, effectively eliminating any chance of recovery.

Significant Incidents

• Originally built as the steamer Milwaukee in 1879.
• Renamed Yonkers in 1902, converted to bulk freighter.
• Converted into an unrigged barge in 1911.
• Lost in 1917, abandoned and burned in 1918.

Final Disposition

No known wreckage remains; vessel was destroyed by fire.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known navigational hazards related to this vessel exist today.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Yonkers (formerly Milwaukee) had a long and adaptable career, transitioning from steamer to bulk freighter to barge over the course of nearly 40 years. Her loss near Ashtabula, Ohio, was not dramatic, but her abandonment and subsequent destruction by fire in 1918 marked the final chapter for a vessel that had already been rendered obsolete by modern steel-hulled ships. Her hull’s deterioration over the winter of 1917-18 serves as a reminder of how quickly abandoned ships can succumb to the forces of nature.