BALTIMORE (originally ESCANABA, launched 1881)

Identification & Site Information

  • Original Name: Escanaba
  • Renamed: Baltimore (1899)
  • Type: Wooden bulk freighter (screw-propelled)
  • Builder: Linn & Craig
  • Build Location: Gibraltar, Michigan
  • Year Built: 1881
  • Dimensions:
  • Final Voyage Date: 24 May 1901
  • Location of Loss: Approximately 0.5 miles southeast of Au Sable, Michigan, Lake Huron
  • Coordinates: Not precisely documented
  • Depth of Wreck: 6.7 m (22 ft)

Vessel Type Description

The Baltimore, formerly Escanaba, was a large wooden screw-propelled bulk freighter built to carry coal, grain, and other heavy commodities on the Great Lakes. She had a robust wooden Hull reinforced for repeated lake crossings, though still vulnerable to severe storms.

History

Built in 1881 at Gibraltar, Michigan, Escanaba joined the Great Lakes trade hauling bulk commodities. Throughout her career, she suffered a series of mishaps including:

  1. 1883 – Nearly capsized in a storm in Saginaw Bay while loaded with corn.
  2. 1896 – Grounded on Gull Island Reef, released by the Tug Monarch.

In 1899, she was purchased by P.H. Fleming of Chicago and renamed Baltimore. She continued in coal and grain transport until her final loss.

Final Voyage and Loss

On 24 May 1901, while bound for Thunder Bay, Michigan, with a cargo of coal, Baltimore encountered a severe Lake Huron gale. Battling heavy seas, she struck a reef and broke in two, rapidly foundering. Out of 15 crew aboard, 13 perished, making this one of the deadliest freighter losses of the era.

Salvage & Final Disposition

In October–November 1901, salvage teams removed the engine and boiler. Additional salvage in 1903 recovered most gear and machinery, but the Hull was left on the lakebed.

Today the wreck rests about 0.8 km (half a mile) southeast of Au Sable, Michigan, in 6.7 m (22 ft) of water. The Hull is mostly scattered and broken due to weather and salvage, but portions are still visible.

Located By & Date Found

No formal modern archaeological survey has precisely mapped the site, though it is visited by recreational divers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Condition: Largely scattered, with disintegrated Hull sections
  • Accessibility: Relatively shallow and suitable for recreational divers, with variable Visibility
  • Hazards: Sharp timbers and unstable wreckage

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted, but caution is advised due to historical significance and wreckage hazards.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Baltimore is a prime illustration of the risks faced by wooden bulk freighters on the Great Lakes in the early 20th century. Her loss, along with 13 lives, highlights both the power of Lake Huron storms and the vulnerability of wood-hulled vessels in severe weather. Today, her remains remind divers and historians of those perils.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Wooden bulk freighter, Lake Huron, coal cargo, Great Lakes shipping, P.H. Fleming, Au Sable, screw propeller, maritime tragedy, shipwreck