Identification & Site Information

  • Name: PRUSSIA
  • Official Number: 75638
  • Year Built: 1873
  • Built At: Saint Catharines, Ontario
  • Final Disposition: Burned
  • Final Location: Sand Island near Bayfield, Wisconsin
  • Lake: Superior
  • Date Lost: 12 September 1885

Vessel Type

  • Type: Propeller (Screw Steamer)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: 2
  • Masts: 1

Description

  • Builder: Louis Shickluna
  • Original Owners: Graham, Burrows, Oille & Brown of Saint Catharines, Ontario
  • Engine: 36″ x 34″ single-cylinder high-pressure engine by G.N. Oille, rated 300 hp
  • Boiler: One 17′ high-pressure boiler
  • Propulsion: Single screw
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 137.7 ft (41.98 m)
    • Beam: 23.6 ft (7.19 m)
    • Depth: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 710.08
  • Net Tonnage: 457.81
  • Capacity: 18,000 bushels cargo, 50 passengers

History

  • 1873 (June 9): Launched in Saint Catharines, Ontario; built at a cost of $37,000.
  • 1875: Operated between Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto, and Saint Catharines under the Merchants Montreal & Chicago Line.
  • 1876: Transferred to Lake Superior routes, operating from Windsor.
  • 1877 (May 15): Re-registered in Saint Catharines; run by the Western Express Line.
  • 1880: Operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Montreal, Quebec.
  • 1883 (August 27): Struck a rock near Chippewa Point, sank at Brockville, Ontario, carrying 17,200 bushels of wheat and sundries.
  • 1883 (September 8): Raised and brought to Kingston for repairs.
  • 1884: Rebuilt; new dimensions 137.8 x 23.8 x 7.4 ft; 637.74 gross, 406.49 net tons.
  • 1884 (April 10): Owned by George (possibly Abraham) of Port Arthur, Ontario.
  • 1884 (May): Took over EUROPE‘s route on the Lake Superior north shore.
  • 1884 (May 12): Assisted ARGYLE, which had sunk on the north shore.
  • 1884 (September): Operated between Duluth, Minnesota and Port Arthur, Ontario.
  • 1885 (September 12): Burned near Sand Island, Lake Superior, while bound from Port Arthur to Michipicoten.

Final Disposition

The PRUSSIA burned on 12 September 1885 near Sand Island in Lake Superior. No confirmed casualties were reported, but complete incident details remain sparse in the available documentation. The vessel was operating a regular route along Lake Superior’s north shore at the time of her loss.

Located By & Date Found

No official discovery or archaeological survey of the wreck site has been publicly reported. It is presumed that remains are scattered or buried near Sand Island.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The PRUSSIA served as a regional workhorse on both the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes systems during the 1870s and 1880s. Known for her versatility in passenger and grain freight service, she is representative of wood-hulled propeller steamers of the era. Her catastrophic loss by fire curtailed a renewed service life following her 1883 sinking and Rebuild. Today, she remains an important, though largely undocumented, casualty in the maritime history of Lake Superior.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: Propeller, wooden Steamer, Lake Superior, Louis Shickluna, burned wreck, high-pressure engine, 19th-century grain trade, Port Arthur, Sand Island
  • Categories: Steamships, Canadian-built vessels, Maritime Incidents (Fire), Rebuilt Vessels, Passenger & Freight
  • Glossary Terms: Gross Tonnage, High-Pressure Engine, Screw Propeller, Re-registration, Foundering