TOPEKA – Shipwreck Information

  • Official No.: 145510
  • Other Names: None
  • Type at Loss: Propeller, wooden, bulk freight, self-unloading
  • Built: 1889, Milwaukee Shipyard Co., Milwaukee (Hull #30)
  • Specifications:
    • Length: 228 ft (69.5 m)
    • Beam: 36 ft (10.97 m)
    • Depth: 19 ft (5.79 m)
    • Gross Tonnage: 1376 tons (1376 t)
    • Net Tonnage: 1111 tons (1111 t)
  • Date of Loss: August 15, 1916
  • Place of Loss: Off Windsor (Sandwich), Ontario
  • Lake: Detroit River
  • Type of Loss: Collision
  • Loss of Life: None
  • Cargo: Coal
  • Owner at Time of Loss: Not specified
  • Captain at Time of Loss: Not specified
  • Vessel Type Propeller, wooden, bulk freight, self-unloading (converted in 1912)

Description

The Topeka was a wooden propeller freighter built in 1889 at the Milwaukee Shipyard Co. It was primarily used for bulk freight transport, and in 1912, it was converted into a self-unloading vessel, allowing it to unload cargo like coal without the need for manual labor. The ship had an impressive length of 228 feet and a Gross Tonnage of 1376 tons, making it one of the larger freighters operating on the Great Lakes at the time.

On August 15, 1916, while traveling on the Detroit River near Windsor, Ontario, the Topeka collided with the smaller Steamer Christopher. The collision caused significant damage to the Topeka, leading to its sinking. However, the ship’s machinery was later recovered, and the wreck was leveled by dynamiting on December 26, 1916. The wreck was fully cleared, marking the end of the Topeka’s service.

Final Dispositions

Following the collision and sinking on August 15, 1916, the Topeka‘s wreckage was cleared by dynamiting on December 26, 1916, after its machinery was salvaged. The vessel’s loss did not result in any loss of life, and no records indicate significant recovery of the vessel’s cargo. The ship’s sinking occurred in the Detroit River, but after its recovery of machinery and removal of the wreckage, the site of the wreck was effectively cleared of navigational hazards.

Located By & Date Found

The Topeka was later located, but the exact date or circumstances of its recovery from the collision are not specified in historical sources. However, the wreck was eventually dynamited in late December 1916, which indicates that any remaining wreckage was cleared from the river after its machinery was retrieved.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no known current navigational hazards related to the wreck of the Topeka, as the wreck was cleared by dynamiting in 1916. The collision with the Christopher and subsequent removal of the wreckage ensured that the site no longer posed any significant risk to navigation.

Resources & Links

• Sources:

• MV, HGL, NS2, RKR, MPL, EAS, NSP

• Additional resources for research and historical information:

• Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals

• The Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Topeka was a large wooden propeller freighter that met its unfortunate end on August 15, 1916, when it collided with the Steamer Christopher in the Detroit River. The vessel was carrying coal at the time, and despite the collision, no lives were lost. The wreck was later cleared by dynamiting, with the machinery salvaged before the demolition. The Topekahad previously been converted into a self-unloading vessel in 1912, showcasing the continual evolution of Great Lakes freighters in the early 20th century.