Final Voyage
In fair weather at 12:25 am on 17 September 1892, the steamer Nipigon was light and upbound in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior towing the schooners Melbourne and Delaware. The Vienna under Captain J.W. Nicholson was downbound from Marquette, Michigan and towing the schooner Mattie C. Bell. Both were heavy with a cargo of iron ore. The Vienna and the Nipigon exchanged signals for the normal port to port passing but the 191 ft (58 m), 626 ton Nipigon suddenly veered and rammed the 191 ft (58 m), 1,006 ton Vienna on the port side. Both vessels immediately dropped their consorts. The Nipigon tried to tow the Vienna to shallow water but after an hour they were still about 1 mile (1.6 km) from shore when the ore-laden, mortally wounded Vienna dove into deep water. No one could explain why the Nipigon failed to obey her helm. The Vienna was valued at $46,000 but she was only partly insured. The Vienna’s crew and papers were transferred to the lumber hooker Nipigon. The Nipigon’s stem and forefoot were badly crushed but she was not leaking much and she was able to proceed on her way. A tug towed the Bell to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
Read more about this topic: SS Vienna (1873)
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