SS D. M. Wilson
Wooden-hulled American lake freighter
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SS D. M. Wilson was a wooden–hulled American lake freighter built in 1873, in St. Clair, Michigan. She operated on the Great Lakes for 21 years, before springing a leak and sinking on Lake Huron, 2 miles (3.2 km) off Thunder Bay Island, on 27 October 1894, while laden with coal. Her wreck, although heavily salvaged, rests mostly intact in 40 feet (12.2 m) of water.
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- Thomas Wilson (1873–1883)
- Charles H. Laine (1883–1890)
- John A. Miller (1890–1894)
D. M. Wilson under construction | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} United States | |
| Name | D. M. Wilson |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Simon Langell, St. Clair, Michigan |
| Launched | May 1873 |
| In service | 1873 |
| Out of service | 27 October 1894 |
| Identification | US official number 6772 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Lake freighter |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 179 feet 1 inch (54.6 m) |
| Beam | 32 feet 7 inches (9.9 m) |
| Depth | 12 feet 2 inches (3.7 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × propeller |
History
D. M. Wilson (US official number 6772) was a wooden lake freighter, built shipwright Simon Langell in St. Clair, Michigan, in 1873.[1] Her hull was 179 feet 1 inch (54.6 m) in length, 32 feet 7 inches (9.9 m) in beam, and 12 feet 2 inches (3.7 m). She had a gross register tonnage of 757, and a net register tonnage of 591. D. M. Wilson's propulsion system consisted of a single cylinder high pressure non–condensing steam engine with a 27-inch (0.7 m) bore, and a 30-inch (0.8 m) stroke built by the Globe Iron Works Company in Cleveland, Ohio, and two 90 pounds per square inch (620 kPa) tubular marine boilers.[1]
Launched in May 1873, she was built for Thomas Wilson's Wilson line for service in the iron ore, coal and grain trades.[1]
She was sold twice, to Charles H. Laine to serve as part of the Chicago & Ogdensburg Transit Company fleet in 1883, and to John A. Miller in 1890.[1]
Final voyage
On 27 October 1894, D. M. Wilson was headed from Cleveland, for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a cargo of coal, with the barge Manitowoc in tow.[1][2] Off Sturgeon Point and about 25 miles (40.2 km) off Thunder Bay Island Light, she developed a serious leak.[1] The steamers Hudson and Samuel Mitchell took her in tow, with the intention of taking her to Middle Island.[1] However, while situated 2 miles (3.2 km) north–northeast of Thunder Bay Island, D. M. Wilson foundered.[1][2] Her crew was rescued by the freighter Sylvanus J. Macy.[1]
D. M. Wilson's wreck was damaged in a storm on 10 November.[1]
Wreck
The wreck of D. W. Wilson rests in 40 feet (12.2 m) of water. It was salvaged substantially after her loss, with most of her machinery being removed.[3] While her cabins and most of her decks are gone and her stern is broken, most of her hull remains intact.[3][4] An anchor and windlass remain at the site.[4]