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    VESSEL NAME:   Thomas Wilson
    OTHER NAME(s):  -
    OFFICIAL NO:   145616
    DATE OF LOSS:  7 June 1902
    CAUSE OF LOSS: Collision
    LOCATION:      Lake Superior, 1 mi. outside Duluth harbor
    RIG TYPE:      Propeller, whaleback
    HULL TYPE:     Steel
    BUILDER:       American Steel Barge Co., West Superior, WI - 1892
    OWNER(S):      Pittsburg Steamship Co.,
    MASTER:        Capt. M. C. Cameron
    TONNAGE:       1,713 gt
    DIMENSIONS:    308 x 38 x 24
    CASUALTIES:    9 of 20

                   On a perfectly calm and clear late spring morning the
                THOMAS WILSON, outbound from Duluth with iron ore for
                Chicago, came in collision with the wooden propeller GEORGE
                G. HADLEY, inbound with coal.The pair should have passed
                starboard to each other but the HADLEY suddenly swung to
                port, making for the Superior entrance of the harbor. The
                WILSON attempted an evasive maneuver by turning to
                starboard. The vessels were then too near each other other
                for collision to be avoided and the THOMAS WILSON was
                struck with great force on the port broadside just abaft of
                the beam, damaging her to such an extent that she plunged
                to the bottom within five minutes. The surviving members of
                the crew were picked up by the tug ANNIE L. SMITH or swam
                to the HADLEY.
                   In the aftermath it was determined that the masters of
                both vessels were at fault for disobedience of the rules of
                navigation. The license of Capt. Michael Fitzgerald, of the
                HADLEY, was revoked.  The license of Capt. M. C. Cameron,
                of the WILSON, was suspended for sixty days.
                   While afloat the WILSON was valued at $200,000 and her
                cargo at $10,000, yet she carried no insurance. The sunken
                wreck was purchased by the Weiland Bros., of Duluth, in
                August. Weiland intended to raise the wreck but were
                inexperienced in such matters and the THOMAS WILSON stayed
                in place.
                  In 1992 the sunken remains of the THOMAS WILSON were
                listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


                The lost crew:
                Campbell, John - lookout, Greenleaf, MI
                   (abt. age 26, single)
                Carey, John - deckhand, St. Catharines, Ont.
                Fink, Guy - second cook, Superior (age 21, single)
                Fraser, James M. - fireman, Manitoulin Isl. 
                   (age 24, single)
                Jones, Thomas - deckhand
                McDougal, James - oiler, West Superior (age 23, single)
                McGraw, James - Wheelsman, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
                Roebuck, William - fireman, Port Hampton (age 19, single)
                Tripp, Aaron - cook


 ========================================================================
Sources: Annual Report of the U.S.L.S.S. - 1903
         Marine Record, 19 June 1902; 7 August 1902
         Milwaukee Journal, 7 June 1902
         Record of American and Foreign Shipping, 1900
         The Federal Reporter, Vol. 126 - 1904