Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Miami
- Official number: 91991 (shipwreckexplorers.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Built: 1888 by M. Lester, Marine City, Michigan
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller bulk freight steambarge
- Dimensions: 131 ft × 27 ft × 10 ft; 288 GRT, 191 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
The Miami was a single-screw wooden freight Steamer, designed for bulk cargo—likely grain, coal, or similar commodities. As a steambarge, she was built robustly to work alongside barges, offering utility within regional Great Lakes shipping lines.
Operational History
Served as a regional freight vessel, hauling goods across Lake Huron. Specific tonnage carried on her final voyage isn’t specified, though record lists don’t note fatalities on her sinking (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date: August 6, 1924
- Location: Approximately mid-lake, about 48 miles off Thunder Bay Island, Michigan—on route to Spragge, Ontario, between Thunder Bay, MI and Burnt Island, ON (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Incident: A fire erupted aboard—cause undetermined—leading to Miami burning and sinking.
- Aftermath: All crew were rescued by the nearby Tug Edna A; no lives lost (shipwreckexplorers.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Wreck Site & Condition
- Location: Likely resides within offshore waters (estimated depth >100 ft); precise coordinates not recorded.
- Condition: Submerged as a burned Steamer; remnants possibly include charred Hull timbers, machinery, or structural debris.
Warnings & Notices
No documented Notices to Mariners were filed, and no navigational hazards have been linked to the wreck.
Sources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “M”: Confirms build data, loss date, dimensions, fire incident, sinking route, and rescue details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Archival follow-up: Investigate mirrored marine reports—US/Canadian coast guard logs, Duluth shipping records for fire cause and cargo manifests.
- Newspaper research: Examine August 1924 issues of Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, Sault Star, and Toronto Globe for stories about the fire and rescue.
- Sonar Survey: Deploy side-scan sonar or ROV over the transit corridor between Thunder Bay, MI and Burnt Island, ON, in waters approximately 48 miles offshore.
- Museum inquiries: Explore possible Miami cargo manifests or line records at Great Lakes marine museums and archives in Michigan/Ontario.
Summary
Miami’s destruction by fire and sinking without loss of life typifies early 20th‑century Great Lakes steam freight emergencies. With its mid-lake location and timber construction, its wreck could yield valuable insights into maritime fire dynamics, wood-Steamer design, and crew evacuation practices of the period. A targeted underwater survey may finally locate her remains.