SS Appomattox facts for kids
The Appomattox in the St. Marys River
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Appomattox |
| Operator |
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| 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 on Lake Michigan |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bulk Freighter |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 42 feet (13 m) |
| Height | 23 feet (7.0 m) |
| Installed power | 2 × Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | 1.100 horsepower triple expansion steam engine |
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Appomattox (shipwreck)
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 150 yards off Atwater Beach in the village of Shorewood, Wisconsin |
| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built by | James Davidson |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001547 |
| Added to NRHP | January 20, 2005 |
The SS Appomattox was a large wooden ship that carried cargo on the Great Lakes in the United States. It was a type of ship called a Lake freighter. In 1905, the Appomattox got stuck on a reef in Lake Michigan, near Atwater Beach in Shorewood, Wisconsin. The parts of the ship that remain today were added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 2005.
Contents
Building the Appomattox
The Appomattox (Official number 116682) was built in 1896. It was made in West Bay City, Michigan, by a famous shipbuilder named James Davidson. He was known for making new and strong wooden ships. The Appomattox was the biggest steam-powered cargo ship ever to sail on the Great Lakes. It was also one of the last ships Davidson built for his own company, the Davidson Steamship Company.
How Big Was This Ship?
The Appomattox was very long, measuring about 330 feet (100 m) from end to end. This made it one of the largest wooden ships ever built. Its main body was 319.80 feet (97.48 m) long. The ship was 42 feet (13 m) wide and 23 feet (7.0 m) deep. It could carry a lot of weight, with a gross register tonnage of 2643 tons.
Powering the Appomattox
The ship had a powerful 1,100 horsepower triple expansion steam engine. This engine was built in Detroit, Michigan. Two large Scotch marine boilers provided the steam for the engine. These boilers were made in Saginaw, Michigan, and were about 12.3 feet (3.7 m) tall and 12.160 feet (3.706 m) wide.
Because the Appomattox was so long, it needed extra strength. It had metal braces, a metal keelson (a strong beam along the bottom), metal plates, and several metal arches. To keep the ship from sinking, it also had many siphons and steam-powered pumps.
What the Appomattox Carried
The Appomattox mostly sailed on the Great Lakes. It would carry iron ore (a type of rock used to make steel) when traveling east. On its way back west, it would carry coal.
To carry even more cargo, the Appomattox often towed another ship called the Santiago. The Santiago was a large barge, about 324 feet (99 m) long. The Appomattox could carry over 3,000 tons of cargo by itself. When it towed the Santiago, they could carry almost 8,000 tons together!
An Accident on the River
On August 3, 1900, the Appomattox was pulling the Santiago through the St. Clair River. At the same time, another ship called the Kaliyuga was towing a schooner (a type of sailing ship) named Fontana.
As the four ships got close to each other, the Santiago suddenly moved off course. It crashed into the Fontana. The Fontana sank very quickly, and sadly, one of its crew members died.
The Final Journey
On November 2, 1905, the Appomattox was sailing south on Lake Michigan. It was full of coal, and it was still towing the Santiago, which also carried coal. They sailed into a very thick fog, making it hard to see anything. Because of the fog, both ships sailed too close to the shore and got stuck.
Another ship nearby, named the Iowa, also ran aground. Rescue tugboats, a government cutter, and the U.S. Lifesaving Service quickly helped free the Santiago and the Iowa.
However, the Appomattox was stuck much harder. Its bottom was badly damaged. Even with all the effort from the rescue crews, they could not get it to float again.
Abandoning the Ship
The weather got worse, and strong waves kept hitting the Appomattox. The rescue crews tried their best to save the ship. But the bottom of the Appomattox had cracked in many places. Even with many pumps working, they couldn't stop the water from filling the ship.
On November 15, 1905, the rescue crews had to give up. The ship was left behind. Later, around 1907 or 1919, a company called Reid (or Reed) Wrecking Company removed all the machinery from the ship.
The Appomattox Today
The remains of the Appomattox are still in Lake Michigan. They lie in about 15 feet (4.6 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) of water. This is about 150 yards (or 137 meters) from Atwater Beach.
What's left of the ship includes its lower hull, which is about 250 feet (76 m) long. Parts of its left and right sides are also there. You can also find the remains of where its engine used to be. Near the wreck, there is a large four-bladed propeller, which is believed to be from the Appomattox.
The wreck is a popular spot for divers. This is because it's close to the shore and in shallow water, making it easier to explore.
