SS Algoma
Encyclopedia
The Algoma was a steamer built in 1883; it was sunk off the shore of Mott Island near Isle Royale
in Lake Superior
in 1885 and the remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984.
Canadian Pacific ordered three ships from Aitken & Mansell: the Athabasca, launched on July 3, 1883; the Alberta, launched on July 12, and the Algoma, launched on July 31. The three ships were identical. The company intended to use the ship as a passenger vessel on the Great Lakes
, running from Thunder Bay
on Lake Superior
to Owen Sound
on Lake Huron
. The Alberta and Algoma sailed from Glasgow, Scotland on September 25, taking 13 days to cross the Atlantic and arrive in Montreal, Quebec. However, ships of the Algomas size were too long to pass through the Welland Canal
, so the Algoma was cut in half, with the bow and stern moved through the canal separately on pontoons. The ship was rejoined in Buffalo, New York
, and cabins were added, increasing the tonnage to 1773 tons. Additional work was done on the cabins during the winter of 1883–1884, including the installation of electric lighting; the Algoma and its sister ships were probably the first Great Lakes ships to be electrified. The newly outfitted Algoma, costing a total of $450,000 to build, was relaunched on May 11, 1884.
The three Canadian Pacific steamers immediately set time records for their runs. The Algoma clocked 39 hours, 42 minutes on the run between Owen Sound and Thunder Bay, and journeyed from Toronto to Thunder Bay in the "unprecidented short time of 47 hours." There was some concern that the new steamers were disregarding safety to minimize their run times; indeed, the Alberta was involved in a collision in July 1884 near Whitefish Point which resulted in the loss of three lives.
The ship was grounded so that the waves pummeled the bow section. At about 6 am, the ship broke in two, with the stern grounded on the shore and the bow drifting off. Many of the passengers and crew were swept away, but three people made it to shore (only 50 feet away) and another 11 remained in the bow section of the ship until the morning of November 8, when the storm abated. The survivors all got to shore on November 8, and stayed that night with a party of fishermen. On November 9, the Athabasca was intercepted and the survivors were taken on to Thunder Bay.
Forty-six people died in the wreck of the Algoma; there were 14 survivors, including two passengers, 11 crewmen and the captain. A search party returned to Isle Royale on November 10, but found only two bodies; more bodies and cargo were located in the subsequent months. The force of the storm was such that nearly all the cargo was smashed; only portions of some bodies were found as the waves had "dashed them to pieces against the rocks", and some hull sections were completely flattened.
The wreck of the Algoma was the worst loss of life in the history of Lake Superior shipping.
Much of the stern of the ship was salvaged in 1886, and much of the bow was either salvaged or drifted away. The engine from the ship was used in the passenger steamer Manitoba, launched in 1889; the Manitoba was used for 60 years on the Great Lakes before decommissioning. An additional salvage operation was carried out in 1903.
Isle Royale
Isle Royale is an island of the Great Lakes, located in the northwest of Lake Superior, and part of the state of Michigan. The island and the 450 surrounding smaller islands and waters make up Isle Royale National Park....
in Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
in 1885 and the remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
History
The Algoma (Official #85766) was built in 1883 by Aitken & Mansell in Glasgow, Scotland, for use by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The Algoma was 262 feet long, with a 38-foot beam, a depth of 23 feet, and measured 1750 tons as originally built. It was powered by a compound steam engine driving a screw, and had two masts in case of an engine breakdown. The ship was designed to accommodate 240 first-class passengers and 500 in steerage.Canadian Pacific ordered three ships from Aitken & Mansell: the Athabasca, launched on July 3, 1883; the Alberta, launched on July 12, and the Algoma, launched on July 31. The three ships were identical. The company intended to use the ship as a passenger vessel on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, running from Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario, and the second most populous in Northern Ontario after Greater Sudbury...
on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
to Owen Sound
Owen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
on Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
. The Alberta and Algoma sailed from Glasgow, Scotland on September 25, taking 13 days to cross the Atlantic and arrive in Montreal, Quebec. However, ships of the Algomas size were too long to pass through the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
, so the Algoma was cut in half, with the bow and stern moved through the canal separately on pontoons. The ship was rejoined in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and cabins were added, increasing the tonnage to 1773 tons. Additional work was done on the cabins during the winter of 1883–1884, including the installation of electric lighting; the Algoma and its sister ships were probably the first Great Lakes ships to be electrified. The newly outfitted Algoma, costing a total of $450,000 to build, was relaunched on May 11, 1884.
The three Canadian Pacific steamers immediately set time records for their runs. The Algoma clocked 39 hours, 42 minutes on the run between Owen Sound and Thunder Bay, and journeyed from Toronto to Thunder Bay in the "unprecidented short time of 47 hours." There was some concern that the new steamers were disregarding safety to minimize their run times; indeed, the Alberta was involved in a collision in July 1884 near Whitefish Point which resulted in the loss of three lives.
Wreck of the Algoma
On November 5, 1885, the Algoma left Owen Sound for Thunder Bay, carrying general merchandise, railway supplies, and 13 passengers, the fewest it had ever carried. The light passenger load was likely attributable to the lateness of the season and the recent opening of a rail route around Lake Superior. The ship passed into Lake Superior on November 6; when it was about halfway across the lake it ran into a blinding snowstorm. The sails were set to stabilize the ship, but it drifted off-course. At about 4 am on the morning of November 7, the captain ordered the sails lowered and changed course. At 4:40 am, shortly after resuming steam power, the Algoma ran aground on the southeast shore of Mott Island off Isle Royale.The ship was grounded so that the waves pummeled the bow section. At about 6 am, the ship broke in two, with the stern grounded on the shore and the bow drifting off. Many of the passengers and crew were swept away, but three people made it to shore (only 50 feet away) and another 11 remained in the bow section of the ship until the morning of November 8, when the storm abated. The survivors all got to shore on November 8, and stayed that night with a party of fishermen. On November 9, the Athabasca was intercepted and the survivors were taken on to Thunder Bay.
Forty-six people died in the wreck of the Algoma; there were 14 survivors, including two passengers, 11 crewmen and the captain. A search party returned to Isle Royale on November 10, but found only two bodies; more bodies and cargo were located in the subsequent months. The force of the storm was such that nearly all the cargo was smashed; only portions of some bodies were found as the waves had "dashed them to pieces against the rocks", and some hull sections were completely flattened.
The wreck of the Algoma was the worst loss of life in the history of Lake Superior shipping.
Much of the stern of the ship was salvaged in 1886, and much of the bow was either salvaged or drifted away. The engine from the ship was used in the passenger steamer Manitoba, launched in 1889; the Manitoba was used for 60 years on the Great Lakes before decommissioning. An additional salvage operation was carried out in 1903.