Thomas Wilson (1902)
On June 7, 1902 two ships collided in Duluth Harbor. The Thomas Wilson, a whaleback steamship, was leaving the harbor while the George Hadley was being tugged into the harbor. The Hadley was diverted last minute from Duluth Harbor to Superior Harbor and its captain ordered a turn to port without signaling this sudden change in direction. In response, the Wilson, not wanting to run aground by turning to port, instead turned to starboard. The two ships collided with the George Hadley striking the Thomas Wilson by the after hatch and bouncing back with the force. This tore a hole in the Wilson's bow causing the ship to sink in about three minutes. In total, 9 out of the 20 crewmembers aboard the Thomas Wilson drowned.
As a result of this wreck, new rules were put in place for ships entering and exiting Duluth Harbor. Those rules included:
1. Ships can't leave the harbor with open hatches.
2. Ships can't pull out from other ships after a collision.
3. Crewmembers of a ship do not have to follow a captain's order if another ship is within sight and the captain has not been notified of it.
4. Ships need to be fully equipped with emergency signaling systems.
The wreckage is located about one mile out from the canal in Duluth and is one of the best examples of a preserved whaleback steamship in existance. In the 1970s, several pieces of wreckage were salvaged from the ship and put on display in several nearby maritime museums. It remains a popular spot for divers.
Minnesota Historical Society. (n.d.). Thomas wilson: Description of the wreck event.
Documents About The Ship:
The Thomas Wilson was built in 1892 in West Superior, Wisconsin. These two documents describe the vessel's composition and ownership.
Documents About The Shipwreck:
The Thomas Wilson shipwreck is one of the most famous shipwrecks in the history of Lake Superior. It was well-documented by a variety of sources. The documents above include a detailed description of the collision itself, an interview with Captain Cameron of the Thomas Wilson after the wreck, and a photo of the ship's mast rearing out of the water after the event.
Salvaging Efforts:
The Thomas Wilson's Anchor:
The most recognizable item salvaged from the Thomas Wilson was an anchor. This anchor was raised from the wreckage in 1973 and is currently on display in front of the Maritime Visitor Center in Canal Park, Duluth. These documents include two newspaper clippings about the anchor, two photos of the anchor being salvaged, and one photo of the anchor where it rests in Canal Park.
The McDougall Patented Anchor:
Another anchor was salvaged from the Thomas Wilson. This anchor is the triangular-shaped McDougall Patented Anchor. It is currently on display near the other Wilson anchor in Canal Park. Above are two photographs of this anchor, one of it being salvaged and the other of it in Canal Park.
Other Salvaged Items:
Between 1968 and 1971, several expeditions to the Thomas Wilson wreckage yielded some interesting discoveries. The documents above include a newspaper article about these salvaging efforts, a photograph of the Wilson's engine gauge panel, and a salvaged copy of a certificate of inspection that is on display at the Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth.