SS America – Isle Royal Shipwreck – 1898-1928 (SHIPWRECK)

SS America (Official No. 107367) : The shipwreck of the SS America welcomes visitors to Isle Royale as they pass through North Gap of Washington Harbor. Its remains are visible scarcely more than two feet below the surface.  The America earned its place in “turn of the century” history as the principal transportation and communication link to Isle Royale as well as all of the remote North Shore settlements. It transported passengers, the fish catch, supplies, and mail on three voyages a week from Duluth to Isle Royale and Thunder Bay, with numerous stops along the way at places like Tofte, Hoveland, and Grand Portage.  Fishermen in smaller North Shore villages would wait for the America ’s whistle then row their skiffs out to meet her and transfer their fish and supplies.  In that era Isle Royale had several thriving resort and commercial fishing businesses and the SS America was the key link to both.

In the pre-dawn morning of June 7, 1928, after departing the Washington Island dock, under command of First Mate John Wick, the America struck a submerged shoal which tore a the fatal hole in her hull.  Captain Edward Smith rushed to the helm and ordered “Beach Her! Beach Her!” and tried to nurse her into the small bay near where she lies today.  Unfortunately the America ran hard aground on another shoal where she slowly settled to the bottom.  All passengers and crew made it safely to the lifeboats and abandoned ship.

• Year Built- 1898
• Configuration- Steel hull screw steamer with oak superstructure
• Dimensions- 182.6 ft. (orig. 164.6 ft.) length, 31 ft. beam, 11 ft. depth
• Engine- Triple expansion with cylinder diameters of 15, 24 and 38 in. and 24 in. stroke, 700 hp at 160 rpm
• Boilers- Two scotch boilers 10 ft. diameter and 10 ft. 2 in. long, working pressure of 125 psi
• Top speed- 17 mph

Full Article
 
Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

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