PS Cumberland

Last updated
Cumberland vessel.jpg
History
Canadian Red Ensign 1868-1921.svg Canada
NameCumberland
OperatorToronto and Lake Superior Navigation Company
BuilderMelanchthan & Simpson
LaunchedAugust 8, 1871
FateSank 1877
General characteristics
TypeSide paddlewheeler
Tonnage750 tons gross
Length214 feet
Beam28 feet
Draft10.5 feet
Installed power400HP
Propulsion walking beam engine
CUMBERLAND
USA Michigan location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationNear Rock of Ages Light, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan [1]
Coordinates 47°51.465′N89°19.650′W / 47.857750°N 89.327500°W / 47.857750; -89.327500 Coordinates: 47°51.465′N89°19.650′W / 47.857750°N 89.327500°W / 47.857750; -89.327500
Area206.6 acres (83.6 ha)
Built1871
ArchitectMelanchthan & Simpson
Architectural styleSide paddlewheeler
MPS Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park TR
NRHP reference No. 84001732 [2]
Added to NRHPJune 14, 1984

The Cumberland was a wooden-hulled side paddlewheeler built in 1871; it was wrecked off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1877 and the remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. [2]

Contents

History

The Cumberland prior to her sinking Cumberland ship.png
The Cumberland prior to her sinking

The Cumberland was constructed in 1871 by Melanchthan & Simpson of Port Robinson, Ontario [3] for Perry & Company, a Toronto steamship line. [4] The ship was launched on August 8, 1871. [5] The Cumberland's design was typical of the sidewheel steamers built for Great Lakes travel in the 1840s-1880s. [5] It was a wooden-hulled, sidewheel paddleboat, [6] 208 feet in length at the keel and 214 feet in length total. [5] The ship had a beam of 28 feet (48 feet overall), a draft of 10 feet 6 inches, and measured 750 tons gross. [5] The ship was powered by a 400HP walking beam engine with a single boiler and possessed paddlewheels 30 feet in diameter. [3] [5]

The Cumberland was built for Northern Railway of Canada, the parent company of the Toronto and Lake Superior Navigation Company, to run between Duluth, Minnesota and Collingwood or Owen Sound, Ontario, [3] and was named For Fred W. Cumberland, Northern Railway's general manager. [5] The ship first saw service in May 1871. [5]

During its service, the Cumberland was involved in a number of serious incidents. In November 1872, the ship was frozen in the ice in the St. Mary's River; most of the crew trekked on foot from the ship to Collingwood, Ontario; leaving a few crewmembers and passengers on the vessel. [5] The fate of those left aboard is not known, but it is likely the ship overwintered in the ice. [5] In November 1874, the Cumberland was caught in a storm on its way to Thunder Bay. [5] Caulking of the ship's hull came loose in several areas, and it began to take on water. [5] To lighten the load, livestock on the deck was thrown overboard. [5] The ship made it to port with six feet of water in the hold and promptly sank. [5] In November 1875, the Cumberland was again caught in a storm, and was grounded near Silver Islet, Ontario. [5] Luckily, there was little damage from this incident, and cargo and passengers soon arrived safely in Thunder Bay. [5] In September 1876, the ship ran aground again, this time at Owen Sound. [5]

The wreck of the Cumberland

In July 1877, the Cumberland was grounded for three days on a sand bar in the harbor at Nipigon. [5] It arrived in Thunder Bay on July 24, three days behind schedule, and probably left the same day. [5] However, once out of port, she began taking on water. [5] The day was clear and dry, and passengers were transferred to another vessel. [5] On July 25, 1877, [6] [7] the ship struck a reef near the Rock of Ages Light. [8] The bow section of the ship was stuck solid aground. [5] Other ships attempted to free the Cumberland, but she was stuck fast. [3]

Salvage operations began, with a number of tugs and other vessels attempting to save the ship. [5] However, the wreck was rapidly deteriorating, and by August 12 salvage operations were given up. [3] The ship broke apart entirely on August 18; [7] sections remained visible for several weeks, [5] but the ship was completely submerged by early September. [3]

The wreck today

Diving the wreck of the Cumberland CumberlandWreck.jpg
Diving the wreck of the Cumberland

Large portions of the ship remain in 20 to 80 feet of water, including the wooden hull, side-wheel, and boiler. [8] However, most of the superstructure is missing, as well as nearly all of the engine. [5] The wreckage of the Cumberland is intermingled with some portions of the hull of the Henry Chisholm , which sank later in 1898, [8] and not far from the remains of the George M. Cox. [5] Approximately 40 dives were made to the Cumberland in 2009 out of 1,062 dives made to wrecks in the Isle Royale National Park. [9] The ship is significant as the only known example of this size, style, and age of ship available in Lake Superior as a shipwreck. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle Royale National Park</span> US National Park on Isle Royale, Michigan

Isle Royale National Park is an American national park consisting of Isle Royale and more than 400 small adjacent islands, as well as the surrounding waters of Lake Superior, in the state of Michigan. Isle Royale is 45 mi (72 km) long and 9 mi (14 km) wide, with an area of 206.73 sq mi (535.4 km2), making it the fourth-largest lake island in the world. In addition, it is the largest natural island in Lake Superior, the second-largest island in the Great Lakes, the third-largest in the contiguous United States, and the 33rd-largest island in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Keweenaw County, Michigan</span>

The following is a list of Registered Historic Places in Keweenaw County, Michigan.
     This National Park Service list is complete through NPS recent listings posted September 23, 2022.

SS <i>Meteor</i> (1896)

SSMeteor is the sole surviving ship of the unconventional "whaleback" design. The design, created by Scottish captain Alexander McDougall, enabled her to carry a maximum amount of cargo with a minimum of draft. Meteor was built in 1896 in Superior, Wisconsin, United States, and, with a number of modifications, sailed until 1969. She is now a museum ship in the city of her construction.

USS <i>Puritan</i> (ID-2222) Passenger ship that sank in Lake Superior

USS Puritan, a civilian transport built by Craig Shipbuilding Company in Toledo, Ohio, was launched in 1901, and lengthened by 26 ft (7.9 m) in 1908. The ship sailed on the Great Lakes in passenger service, was purchased by the U.S. Navy at the end of the war, and returned to passenger service after the war. The ship sank in 1933 near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, and its wreck is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

SS <i>Kamloops</i> Lake freighter of Canada Steamship Lines

SS Kamloops was a Canadian lake freighter that was part of the fleet of Canada Steamship Lines from its launching in 1924 until it sank with all hands in Lake Superior off Isle Royale, Michigan, United States, on or about 7 December 1927.

SS <i>Glenlyon</i> Freighter sunk off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior

The Glenlyon was a freighter built in 1893; it was sunk off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1924 and the remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

SS <i>Algoma</i> Screw steamer sunk on Lake Superior

Algoma was a screw steamer built in 1883. She sank off Mott Island near Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1885 and some of her remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

SS <i>America</i> (1898) Steam packet wrecked off Isle Royale in Lake Superior

America was a packet boat transporting passengers, mail, and packages between settlements along the North Shore of Lake Superior, an inland sea in central North America. Built in 1898, America sank in Washington Harbor off the shore of Isle Royale in 1928, where the hull still remains. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

SS <i>Henry Chisholm</i> Wooden freighter sunk in Lake Superior

The Henry Chisholm was a wooden freighter; it was sunk off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1898 and the remains are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

SS <i>Monarch</i> Passenger-package freighter that sank in Lake Superior

SS Monarch was a passenger-package freighter built in 1890 that operated on the Great Lakes. She was sunk off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior in 1906 and the remains of her wreck and cargo are still on the lake bottom. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Isle Royale National Park.

SS <i>Choctaw</i> Unique steamship wrecked in Lake Huron in 1915

SS Choctaw was a steel-hulled American freighter in service between 1892 and 1915, on the Great Lakes of North America. She was a so-called monitor vessel, containing elements of traditional lake freighters and the whaleback ships designed by Alexander McDougall. Choctaw was built in 1892 by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and was originally owned by the Lake Superior Iron Company. She was sold to the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company in 1894 and spent the rest of her working life with it. On her regular route between Detroit, Escanaba, Marquette, and Cleveland, she carried iron ore downbound, and coal upbound.

SS <i>Ohio</i> (1875) Wooden steamship wrecked in Lake Huron in 1894

SS Ohio was a wooden hulled Great Lakes freighter that served on the Great Lakes of North America from her construction in 1875, to her sinking in September 1894 when she collided with the schooner barge Ironton which also sank in the collision. Ironton was being towed by the steamer Charles J. Kershaw, which was also towing the schooner Moonlight. Ohio was found upright in 2017, over 122 years after her sinking in over 200 feet of water off Presque Isle, Michigan. Ironton is still missing. The researchers who discovered Ohio plan to nominate her for a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

PS <i>Lotta Bernard</i> Paddle-steamer that sank on Lake Superior

PS Lotta Bernard was a wooden-hulled sidewheel steam barge that served on the Great Lakes from her construction in 1869 to her sinking in 1874. She was built in Port Clinton, Ohio, in 1869 by Lewis M. Jackson for S.W. Dorsey of Sandusky, Ohio. When she entered service, she was chartered by the Northern Transportation Company to carry cordwood from the Portage River and Put-in-Bay to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1870, Lotta Bernard was sold to Luman H. Tenney of Duluth, Minnesota. During this time, she was contracted to haul building materials from Bark Bay, Wisconsin, to Duluth to be used in the construction of the first grain elevator in that port. Lotta Bernard was sold to John D. Howard of Superior, Wisconsin, in 1871.

<i>Gunilda</i> Scottish-built steam yacht sunk in Lake Superior

Gunilda was a steel-hulled Scottish-built steam yacht in service between her construction in 1897 and her sinking in Lake Superior in 1911. Built in 1897 in Leith, Scotland by Ramage & Ferguson for J. M. or A. R. & J. M. Sladen, and became owned by F. W. Sykes in 1898; her first and second owners were all from England. In 1901, Gunilda was chartered by a member of the New York Yacht Club, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with a complement of 25 crewmen. In 1903, she was purchased by oil baron William L. Harkness of Cleveland, Ohio, a member of the New York Yacht Club; she ended up becoming the club's flagship. Under Harkness' ownership, Gunilda visited many parts of the world, including the Caribbean, and beginning in 1910, the Great Lakes.

SS <i>Emperor</i> Canadian Great Lakes freighter 1910-1947

SS Emperor was a steel-hulled Canadian lake freighter in service between 1911 and 1947. She was built between 1910 and April 1911 by the Collingwood Shipbuilding Company in Collingwood, Ontario, for Inland Lines, Ltd. of Midland, Ontario. She entered service on May 3, 1911. Emperor was sold to Canada Steamship Lines of Montreal, Quebec. Under the ownership of Canada Steamship Lines, she carried a wide variety of cargoes, but most frequently iron ore to Point Edward, Ontario, where it would be transported to Hamilton, Ontario, by train. After the opening of the fourth Welland Canal, Emperor carried the ore straight to Hamilton. She was involved in several accidents throughout her career.

SS <i>Chester A. Congdon</i> American Great Lakes freighter 1907-1918

SS Chester A. Congdon was a steel-hulled American lake freighter in service between 1907 and 1918. She was built in 1907 by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company of South Chicago, Illinois, for the Holmes Steamship Company, and was intended to be used in the grain trade on the Great Lakes. She entered service on September 19, 1907, when she made her maiden voyage. In 1911, Salt Lake City was sold to the Acme Transit Company. A year later, she was transferred to the Continental Steamship Company, and was renamed Chester A. Congdon, after lawyer and entrepreneur Chester Adgate Congdon. She was involved in several accidents throughout her career.

References

  1. The wreck is listed as "address restricted", but Isle Royale National Park permits public dives and publishes the location of the wreck. Coordinate location is per "The Wrecks of Isle Royale". Black Dog Diving. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park, Chisholm-Cumberland Wreck Site, Historic American Engineering Record, Survey number HAER MI-51-B
  4. "Cumberland Shipwreck". Superior Shipwrecks. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Daniel Lenihan; Toni Carrell; Thom Holden; C. Patrick Labadie; Larry Murphy; Ken Vrana (1987), Daniel Lenihan (ed.), Submerged Cultural Resources Study: Isle Royale National Park (PDF), Southwest Cultural Resources Center, pp. 65–71, 220–253
  6. 1 2 3 Toni Carrell (September 1983), NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM: Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park Thematic Group
  7. 1 2 "NPS Investigates Sunken Ships in Isle Royale NP". National Park Service. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 "Scuba Diving". Isle Royale National Park, National Park Service. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  9. Pete Sweger (2010), "A Diver's Experience" (PDF), The Greenstone 2010, p. 9

Further reading