Madeira (ship) facts for kids
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The Madeira was a special kind of ship called a schooner barge. It sank in Lake Superior off the coast of Minnesota on November 28, 1905. A schooner barge was like a barge (a flat-bottomed boat for carrying cargo) but it also had sails, just like a schooner. These ships were usually pulled by a steamship. This design was very common on the Great Lakes for moving things like grain and iron ore.
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History of the Madeira
The Madeira was built in 1900 by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company. It was made mostly from strong steel plates that were joined together. Wood was also used in some parts of the ship. The ship had a flat bottom, called a keel, and a wide shape. This design helped it carry as much cargo as possible.
Not much is known about the ship's daily life. However, it did make news in 1902. That year, the Madeira hit the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge in Michigan.
The Final Voyage
On November 28, 1905, the Madeira was being pulled by another ship, the steamer William Edenborn. They were caught in a terrible weather event known as the Mataafa Storm. Winds blew at 70 to 80 miles per hour. Snow covered the deck, and huge waves crashed over the ships.
The captain of the William Edenborn worried his own ship would sink. So, he made the difficult choice to cut the Madeira loose. Some people thought the crew of the Madeira tried to drop anchor to stop the ship. But later, when the wreck was found, both anchors were still in place at the front of the ship.
About two hours after being cut free, the Madeira crashed into a tall cliff called Gold Rock. One brave crewman jumped to shore with a safety rope. He was able to help eight other men get to safety. Sadly, the first mate went down with the ship. Two days later, a tugboat named Edna G rescued the stranded crewmen.
Exploring the Wreck
In 1955, divers from the Frigid Frogs dive club in Duluth, Minnesota, were the first to explore the Madeira wreck. They reported that there was no valuable treasure on board.
In 1960, a company bought the rights to the ship. Divers then removed one of the ship's anchors and its steering wheel. These items were sold to a nearby store called the Split Rock Trading Post. In 1974, another team worked hard to salvage steel from the Madeira.
Today, the ship lies broken into three main parts. The front of the ship is upside down in water that is 40 to 50 feet (12.2 to 15.2 meters) deep. The back of the ship, which has a large steam winch and open hatches, rests on its side at 65 feet (19.8 meters) deep. A small, roofless pilot house is found at 75 feet (22.9 meters) deep.
Images for kids
A closeup of the port bow fairlead on the wreck of Madeira
| History | |
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| Laid down | 1900 |
| Launched | 1900 |
| Fate | Sank November 28, 1905 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Propulsion | Towed by a steam-powered freighter with sails on three masts for assistance |
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Madeira (Schooner-Barge) Shipwreck
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A closeup of the port bow fairlead on the wreck of Madeira
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Beaver Bay, Minnesota |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Chicago Shipbuilding Co. |
| MPS | Minnesota's Lake Superior Shipwrecks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000843 |
| Added to NRHP | July 23, 1992 |
