Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Kakabeka
  • Port of Registry: Winnipeg
  • Official Number: Not listed
  • Date Built: Unknown
  • Tonnage: 74.94 gross tons
  • Date Lost: December 12, 1895
  • Final Location: Sand Island, Lake Superior
  • Cause: Broke from moorings

Vessel Type

Wooden Steam Barge

Description

The Kakabeka was a small, wooden-hulled Steam Barge used in the late 19th century, likely for regional freight or timber transport on inland Canadian and American waters. With a Gross Tonnage of just under 75, it was among the more modest-sized vessels operating on Lake Superior. Construction details, propulsion specifics, and service configuration remain undocumented.

History

Registered in Winnipeg, the Kakabeka operated during a transitional period on the Great Lakes when sail and steam power coexisted. It would have navigated challenging northern routes, likely servicing ports along the Thunder Bay corridor, and may have worked under seasonal timber or general cargo contracts. Unfortunately, historical documentation about its voyages, ownership, or shipbuilder has not survived or been digitized. No records have been found suggesting earlier incidents or rebuilds.

Final Disposition

The vessel broke loose from its moorings at Sand Island on December 12, 1895. Whether this was due to weather, ice pressure, or insufficient securing measures is unknown. The event likely occurred during early winter operations or layup season, a common time for vessels to suffer damage in shifting pack ice or rising winds. No fatalities were reported, and no wreckage has been confirmed found.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. No confirmed archaeological location or survey of the Kakabeka wreck has been published. Its current condition or whether remains exist submerged or alongshore is unknown.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No obstruction or navigation notices have been recorded for Sand Island related to the Kakabeka.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Kakabeka is an example of the many modestly sized working vessels of Lake Superior whose complete histories have faded into obscurity. With limited surviving records and no confirmed wreck site, it highlights the challenges of maritime archaeology in remote freshwater regions like the Apostle Islands. Sand Island remains a location of significant nautical heritage, with this 1895 loss adding to its quiet historical depth.

Keywords, Categories and Glossary

Keywords: Kakabeka, Sand Island, 1895 shipwreck, Lake Superior, Steam Barge, wooden Barge, Apostle Islands
Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Wooden steam barges, Lake Superior losses, Unlocated wrecks
Glossary Terms:

  • Steam Barge: A steam-powered vessel designed for shallow inland or coastal cargo transport
  • Sand Island: A site in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands group, notable for lighthouse history and shipping casualties
  • Moorings: Equipment or location where a vessel is secured while not underway