SSAppomattox

Not to be confused withSS Appomattox (1893).

TheAppomattoxin theSt. Marys River
History
United States
Name	Appomattox
Operator	Davidson Steamship Company 1896-1899 Boston Coal Dock & Wharf Company 1899-1905
Port of registry	United States,Duluth, Minnesota
Builder	James Davidson
Yard number	77
In service	1896
Out of service	November 2, 1905
Identification	U.S. Registry #116682
Fate	Ran aground on a reef onLake Michigan
General characteristics
Type	Bulk Freighter
Tonnage	2,643GRT 2,082NRT
Length	330 ft (100 m)LOA 319.80 ft (97.48 m)LBP
Beam	42 ft (13 m)
Height	23 ft (7.0 m)
Installed power	2 ×Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion	1.100 horsepowertriple expansion steam engine
Appomattox(shipwreck)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	150 yd (140 m) off Atwater Beach in the village ofShorewood, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°5′37.09″N87°51′58.35″W
Area	2.9 acres (1.2 ha)
Built by	James Davidson
NRHP referenceNo.	04001547
Added to NRHP	January 20, 2005

SSAppomattoxwas a wooden-hulled,AmericanGreat Lakes freighterthat ran aground onLake Michigan,off Atwater Beach off the coast ofShorewood, WisconsininMilwaukee County, Wisconsin,United States in 1905. On January 20, 2005 the remnants of theAppomattoxwere listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

History

TheAppomattox(Official number 116682)was built in 1896 inWest Bay City, Michiganby the shipyard owned by master shipbuilder James Davidson who was known for his innovative wooden hulled ships.It was the largest wooden steam powered bulk carrier ever to sail on theGreat Lakes.It was built for the Davidson Steamship Company which was also owned by Captain Davidson; it was also one of the last ships he built.At anoverall lengthof 330 feet (100 m)theAppomattoxwas one of thelargest wooden ships ever built.Its hull was 319.80 feet (97.48 m)between its perpendiculars.Its beam was 42 feet (13 m)wide, and its hull was 23 feet (7.0 m) deep.It had agross register tonnageof 2643 tons,and anet register tonnageof 2082 tons.It was equipped with a 1,100 horsepowertriple expansion steam enginewhich was built by the Frontier Iron Works Company ofDetroit, Michigan.Its engine was fueled by twoScotch marine boilersthat were built by the Wickes Brothers ofSaginaw, Michigan.They measured 12.3 feet (3.7 m) by 12.160 feet (3.706 m)

Due to the vessels length, theAppomattoxused metallic cross bracing, a metallickeelson,metallic plates, and multiple metallic arches.Severalsiphons,pumps were required to keep theAppomattoxafloat.

TheAppomattoxoperated mainly on theGreat Lakes,carryingiron oreon its eastward voyages, and then returning westward withcoal.The ship usually towed the steamer bargeSantiago,which had a length of 324 feet (98.8 m), to increase the amount of cargo carried each trip.TheAppomattoxalone could carry more than 3,000 tons of bulk cargo, and it and theSantiagohad a combined capacity approaching 8,000 tons.

On August 3, 1900 theAppomattoxwas towing the schooner-bargeSantiagoin theSt. Clair River.Meanwhile, the schoonerFontanawas under tow of the steamerKaliyuga.Then as the four ships approached each other, theSantiagoveered off course and collided with theFontana,which sank almost immediately with one fatality.

Final voyage

On the day of November 2, 1905 the coal-ladenAppomattoxwas bound southward with theSantiagowhich was also full of coal. They were sailing on the west shore of Lake Michigan.The pair came upon a thick bank of fog which severely impaired their visibility. The two vessels came too close to the shoreline and ran aground. Another vessel namedIowawas nearby, and she also ran aground.With the use of wrecking tugs, a Revenue Service cutter and the crew of the U.S. Lifesaving Service Station were able to free theSantiagoand theIowain no time at all. Unfortunately theAppomattoxhad run aground so hard that it sustained severe bottom damage, the crews worked but were unable to refloat the hull.

As the weather deteriorated, and the waves continued to pound the hulk of theAppomattox,the crew of the wrecking tugs and the U.S. Lifesaving Service continued in their effort to salvage her.But the bottom of theAppomattoxhad cracked in several places, and even though multiple pumps were used, they could not keep the water from entering her hull. The wrecking crews abandoned her on November 15, 1905. In 1907, or 1919, the Reid (or Reed) Wrecking Company ofSarnia, Ontarioremoved all of her machinery.

Wreck

The remains of theAppomattoxrest in 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 m) of water 150 yards (140 m) off Atwater Beach.The remains consist of theAppomattox'sintact lower bilge which measures 250 feet (76 m), her port side which measures 260 feet (79 m) in length, her starboard side, the remains of her engine beds are also located within the wreck. The wreck is popular with divers due to its close proximity to shore and shallow depth.