Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Zillah (formerly Edward Smith)
- Type: Steam-screw vessel
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: West Bay City, Michigan, USA
- Dimensions: 201.7 ft (61.5 m) length × 37.0 ft (11.3 m) beam × 13.0 ft (3.96 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 748 t
- Depth at Wreck Site: 76 m / 250 ft
- Location: Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: ~4 mi off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior (exact unknown)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Steam-screw vessel
Description
Launched as the Edward Smith in 1890, the vessel was a steel-hulled, steam screw freighter built in West Bay City, Michigan. She was renamed Zillah in 1900 and operated as a mid-sized bulk carrier on the Great Lakes, handling commodities like limestone, coal, and grain.
History
Originally the Edward Smith, she served across the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. After being renamed Zillah in 1900, she continued her cargo work into the early 20th century, adapting to evolving trade routes and cargo demands.
Significant Incidents
- On 29 August 1926, near Whitefish Point in Lake Superior, the Zillah entered a summer storm and began to take on water. Crew abandoned ship but were rescued safely by the steamer William B. Schiller with Coast Guard assistance. Following abandonment, the vessel capsized and sank.
Final Disposition
The Zillah was declared a total loss. Her wreck was later located in deep water (~76 m) and lies intact within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Recorded to lie at approximately 230–250 ft (70–76 m) depth, likely discovered during underwater surveys supporting the creation of the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. The wreck is relatively intact and is protected under the preserve’s regulations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”zillah-edward-smith” title=”References & Links”]
All 12 aboard survived the foundering—no fatalities recorded. No known memorials specific to the Zillah crew exist, but the site remains a significant underwater preserve for divers and historians alike.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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