Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name: Tempest
  • Year Built: 1872
  • Built At: Marine City, Michigan (by D. Lester)
  • Official Number: Not available, but removed from registry post-1918
  • Vessel Type: Propeller Steamer (bulk freight)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: Single-Deck configuration
  • Propulsion & Engines: Powered by a 575 hp steam engine
  • Final Location: ~20 miles off Erie, Pennsylvania, in Lake Erie
  • Date of Loss: 27 August 1918
  • Cause of Loss: Foundered during a storm while towing the Schooner J. I. Case
  • Cargo: Coal
  • Crew: One confirmed fatality
  • Final Voyage: Departed Chicago with tow on Lake Erie, encountered heavy weather and developed a severe leak; sank quickly after taking on water, resulting in loss of one crew member. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Vessel Specifications

  • Dimensions: 159 ft × 30 ft × 13 ft
  • Tonnage: 412 gross / 341 net tons
  • Engine Power: 575 hp (propulsion noted from Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Operational History & Incident

  • Towing Duty: On final voyage, was performing a towing operation for the Schooner J. I. Case
  • Loss Event: In heavy weather, the Temptest developed a catastrophic leak and quickly Foundered, unable to maintain buoyancy; the tow was lost/separated.
  • Casualty Report: Crew safety unclear apart from confirmed one fatality associated with the sinking (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Wreck Site & Discovery

  • Location: ~20 miles off Erie, PA, Lake Erie
  • Depth: Deep waters beyond recreational diving limits; no documented wreck discovery or survey records exist

Resources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – dedicated “T” listings (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Vessel registries: D. Lester shipbuilder index, marine freight transport logs

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Erie (near Erie, PA)
  • Vessel Type: Wooden propeller Steamer
  • Material: Wood
  • Cause of Loss: Storm, foundering/leak
  • Cargo: Coal; towing Schooner J. I. Case
  • Casualty: 1 fatality
  • Year of Loss: 1918
  • Dive Status: No confirmed wreck location, likely deep-water

Summary

The Temptest represents a bulk-freight Steamer engaged in towing service on Lake Erie during WWI. Built in 1872, she sank on 27 August 1918 after taking on water in a sudden storm while towing the Schooner J. I. Case, approximately 20 miles off Erie, PA. The incident resulted in a fatality and the loss of the vessel, with no known remains discovered to date.