Great Lakes Shipwrecks

 beginning with the letter

 P

The Great Lakes Shipwreck File

©1999-2007, David D. Swayze, Lake Isabella, MI, all rights reserved

 

Click Here for Source List

 


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  P.W.D. 114

Other names   : ?

Official no.     : C133941

Type at loss    :  barge, wood

Build info       :  ?

Specs               :  103 t.

Date of loss    :  1919, Oct 28

Place of loss   :  11 mi ENE of Hamilton, Ont. near Oakville.

Lake                : Ontario

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      : ?

Carrying         :  ?

Detail              : Foundered in a storm.

Built or acquired from foreign sources about 1914.

Sources            :   win,h                       not in mmgl


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  P.W.D. 117

Other names   :  built as SIR WILFRID, renamed in 1909

Official no.     : C112186

Type at loss    :  dredge barge, wood

Build info       :  1902, Polson Iron Works, Toronto

Specs               :  108x37,  670gc  570 nc

Date of loss    :  1952, May 29 [also given as "autumn"]

Place of loss   :  at Port Stanley, Ont.

Lake                : Erie

Type of loss    : "sank"

Loss of life      : ?

Carrying         :  ?

Detail              : Foundered in the harbor. Numerous salvage efforts failed, and her registry was closed in January, 1954.

Out of Toronto

On her maiden voyage to Montreal, she broke her boom and was lost from her tug, sinking in 65 feet of water, 8 mi W of Port Hope. No lives were lost. She was recovered in 1907 and rebuilt at Polsons.

Largest of her kind built up to that time. She was originally 96x37 ft, 399gc, enlarged when she was rebuilt in 1909.

Sources            :  h,ledc,win,nsp,go,mmgl


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   FRED PABST

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  120784

Type at loss    :  propeller, wood, bulk freight

Build info       :  1890, Wolfe & Davidson, Milwaukee

Specs               :  287x43x24,  2431g  1929n

Date of loss    :  1907, Oct 11

Place of loss   :   off Point Edward, Ont.

Lake                :  Huron

Type of loss    :  collision

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  coal

Detail              :  The upbound bulker collided with the propeller LAKE SHORE and sank at the head of the St. Clair R., near the Canadian side. In February of the following year she was raised by Reid Wrecking Co., and the hulk was laid up for rebuilding at Sarnia. This was never done and she lay sunken in the river until raised and converted to a floating drydock in 1920.

Sources            :  hcgl,mv,ns1,bb

 

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   PACIFIC

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  none

Type at loss    :  schooner, wood

Build info       :  1835, Oswego, NY

Specs               :  80x20x8,  114 t. om

Date of loss    :  1844, Oct 18

Place of loss   :  near Dunkirk, NY

Lake                :  Erie

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  200-250 bbl salt

Detail              :  Bound Oswego for Cleveland, she was blown ashore and wrecked in the biggest gale of the year. Total loss.

Out of Oswego, sailed by Capt. Ford.

Sources            :    rp,nsp,hgl,wl,bb,jm


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  PACIFIC

Other names   :

Official no.     : C  none

Type at loss    :  schooner, wood, 2-mast

Build info       :  1836, John Robertson, Amherstburg, Ont

Specs               :  61x17x7,   55 gc

Date of loss    :  1864

Place of loss   :  ?

Lake                : Ontario

Type of loss    :  (storm)

Loss of life      :

Carrying         :

Detail              : No detail

Out of Montreal.

Rebuilt in 1849

May be the reporting of the stranding of the scow PACIFIC at Lexington, Michigan, Lake Huron, about May 14, 1864. 

Sources            :  clu,hgl,mmgl(NAC)


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  PACIFIC

Other names   :  built as SYPHAX, renamed about 1883

Official no.     :  23836

Type at loss    :  propeller steam tug, wood

Build info       :  1865, Cleveland, OH

Specs               :  29x9x5,  10g  5n

Date of loss    :  1884, Aug 20

Place of loss   :  near Ashland, WI

Lake                : Superior

Type of loss    :  explosion

Loss of life      :  3

Carrying         :  none

Detail              : Boiler explosion nearly destroyed this small tug. With his dying breath her engineer admitted he was carrying too much steam. Out of Houghton, owned by Union Mill Co.

Official opinion was that she would be a total loss, but she was recovered and rebuilt.

Lytle list reports her as abandoned in 1898.

Sources            :   mv,lhl,lss,polk,bb,nsp


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  PACIFIC

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  19616

Type at loss    :  propeller, wood, bulk freight*

Build info       :  1864, Peck & Masters, Cleveland

Specs               :  188x29x11,  766g  603n

Date of loss    :  1887, Nov 16

Place of loss   :  near Deer Park, MI

Lake                : Superior

Type of loss    : low water

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  lumber

Detail              : She grounded on a shoal after leaving the dock, then was broken up by a gale on the 19th. Bound Deer Park for Michigan City, IN. The nearby Lifesaving Service took her crew off, and later returned for the captain's dog.  Master: Capt. John Cassin. Owned by Cook & Wilson of Chicago

*built as a passenger/package freighter for Dean Richmond of Buffalo

major repairs in 1872, 1881 & 1887

Sources            :   mv,nsp,gwgl,lss,lssc,h,lhl,wb,hgl,mpl,rsl,eas,bb


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  PACIFIC

Other names   :  none

Official no.     : C85323

Type at loss    :  propeller, wood, passenger & package freighter

Build info       :  1883, Owen Sound Dry Dock, Owen Sound, Ont.

Specs               :  179x31,  918gc  624nc

Date of loss    :  1898,  Nov 3

Place of loss   :  Grand Trunk dock at Collingwood, Ont.

Lake                : Huron

Type of loss    :  fire

Loss of life      : none mentioned

Carrying         :  mixed freight

Detail              : She caught fire at the dock and burned to a shell, despite a concerted effort to save her. Her dock and some surrounding warehouses were also destroyed in the blaze. She was later towed out into Georgian Bay and scuttled. Owned by Great Northern Transit Co.

Sources            :   mol,slh,sol,h,lhdc,csv,win,mmgl,hgl,mpl,nsp


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   ROBERT A. PACKER - See BATCHAWANA


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  CHARLES B. PACKARD

Other names   :  built as prop ELFIN-MERE, renamed in 1902

Official no.     :  135940

Type at loss    :  propeller, wood, bulk freight

Build info       :  1887, F. Wheeler, W. Bay City, MI  hull# 35

Specs               :  191x34x21, 1054g  796n

Date of loss    :  1906, Sep 16

Place of loss   :  7.75 mi NW of Pelee Passage light, in the “Middle Ground”

Lake                : Erie

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  coal

Detail              : While driving on through a gale, she struck the wreckage of the schooner ARMENIA(qv) and foundered on Colchester Shoal. She had been bound for Chicago with the barge HAROLD in tow. Owner: J. A. Calbrick, Chicago. Master: Capt. J. McCaffery.

Almost totally destroyed by a fire at Green Bay in Nov, 1901.  Completely rebuilt afterwards.

Sources            :  glp,vbs,gsgl,sol,ns1,h,ledc,nsp,mpl,ew


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  JOHN A. PAIGE

Other names   :  built as P.F. THRALL, renamed before 1884

Official no.     :  150215

Type at loss    :  propeller steam tug, wood

Build info       :  1881, Thrall, Green Bay, WI

Specs               :  74x16x8,   52g  26n

Date of loss    :  1892, Sep 6

Place of loss   :  off Siskowit R., WI

Lake                : Superior

Type of loss    :  fire

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  log raft

Detail              : She caught fire while assembling a large raft of sawlogs and was  burned to a total loss. The fire was thought to have been due to an overheated boiler. After making it to shore, her crew walked 30 miles to Bayfield, Wisconsin. Out of Marquette, owned by W. H. Singer, of Chicago. Master: Capt. D. Courlik?.

Sources            :   mv,gwgl,is,polk,lss,hgl,nsp


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  JOSEPH PAIGE

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  75593

Type at loss    :  schooner-barge, wood, bulk freight, 2-mast

Build info       :  1872, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee as a schooner

Specs               :  190x32x12, 626g  595n

Date of loss    :  1897, Dec 1

Place of loss   :  off Vermilion Point, MI

Lake                : Superior

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  none of 9

Carrying         :  iron ore

Detail              : Outbound from Marquette in tow of the steamer H.B. TUTTLE, she was cast adrift and drove onto a reef. A patrolling Lifesaver spotted her and the Vermilion Pt. Lifesaving Service managed to take her crew off before she broke up, even though the USLS boat was smashed in a most difficult rescue. Master: Capt. Steven Rose. Owner: John Wedow, Cleveland.

Sources            :   lss,gwgl,h,mv,phr,wb,hgl,mpl,nsp


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  S.B. PAIGE

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  116335

Type at loss    :  schooner, wood

Build info       :  1863, Fowler,  Oshkosh, Wis.*

Specs               :  79x20x5, 47g  45n

Date of loss    :  1907, Sep 10

Place of loss   :  off Sturgeon Bay, Wis

Lake                : Michigan

Type of loss    : storm

Loss of life      : none

Carrying         :  30 cords shingle bolts

Detail              : Caught by a gale, she dropped anchor and attempted to ride it out. Her hook failed to hold and the schooner was blown in to shallow water, where she was abandoned

 Also wrecked on Green Bay in Jul, 1898, wrecked near Menominee in 1893.

*Fowler was a shipbuilder from Maine, and the vessel was reported rigged like a “down east” fishing schooner.

 Sources            :   lmdc,mv,hgl,wgts,nsp


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  L. PAINTER

Other names   : none

Official no.     :  15441

Type at loss    :  scow-schooner, wood

Build info       :  1867, South Haven, Mich

Specs               :  94 t.

Date of loss    :  1877, Oct 17

Place of loss   :  7 to 10 mi N of St. Joseph, MI

Lake                : Michigan

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  lumber

Detail              : She was scuttled in a storm at Union Pier  on the 15th, then raised and began her trip downbound again the following day. Struck by another squall off her homeport, she was stripped of her sails, deckload and much gear, and drove into shallow water, where her captain again scuttled her. Though it was thought she could be pulled off, she was given up for lost a few days later after the U. S. revenue steamer ANDREW JOHNSON unsuccessfully tried to save her. Master: Capt. W. R. Johnson.

Out of South Haven in 1872

Sources            :   nsp,mv,bcha,bb


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  PAL

Other names   : none

Official no.     :  238189

Type at loss    :  propeller fish tug, wood, gas engine

Build info       :  1938, Omena, Mich

Specs               :  36x11x4, 17g  13n

Date of loss    :  1947, Nov 18

Place of loss   :  off Pentwater, MI

Lake                : Michigan

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  3

Carrying         :  ?

Detail              : Foundered in a gale. Her wreckage later washed ashore and was dismantled in place.

Out of Muskegon, owned by D.  Loncar.

Sources            :  h,bb,mv


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   PALESTINE

Other names   :  none

Official no.     :  none

Type at loss    :  schooner, wood

Build info       :  1847, Black R., OH

Specs               :  210 t.

Date of loss    :  1853, Nov 23

Place of loss   :  8 mi W of Rochester NY, in Braddock’s Bay

Lake                :  Ontario

Type of loss    :  storm

Loss of life      :  none

Carrying         :  railroad iron

Detail              :  Bound Kingston for Cleveland at about the same time as the like-laden schooner ONTONAGON. Both vessels ran  ashore, pounded heavily and sank. Both vessels also reported the same erratic variations in their compasses which caused them to strike the beach a few rods apart. [The same thing had happened in the same place to two other iron-laden vessels a few years previously.] The cargoes were removed and the ONTONAGON was pulled off on Dec 7, but PALESTINE was abandoned to break up in place.

Sources            :    nsp,hgl


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  PALMBAY

Other names   :  built as prop PUEBLO, renamed RICHARD W in 1916, renamed PALMBAY in 1923

Official no.     : C133822

Type at loss    :  propeller, wood, bulk freight

Build info       :  1891, Milwaukee Shipyard, Milwaukee  hull# 33

Specs               :  219x37x19, 1493 t.

Date of loss    :  1926, Jan 16

Place of loss   :  Kingston, Ont.

Lake                : Ontario

Type of loss    :  fire

Loss of life      :  none