The SS Vernon was a notable wooden-hulled American passenger and package freighter constructed in 1886 by the James P. Smith shipyard in Chicago, Illinois. Her hull measured approximately 158.58 feet in length, with some sources citing 177 feet, and she was 25.42 feet wide and 18.66 feet deep. She had a gross register tonnage of around 695 tons and a net tonnage of 560 tons. Powered by a two-cylinder 565 horsepower fore-and-aft compound steam engine, she was equipped with two Scotch marine boilers producing steam at 125 psi. Her propulsion was provided by a single fixed-pitch propeller, enabling her to reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Designed for rapid passenger and freight service between Chicago and Northern Lake Michigan ports, Vernon was renowned for her elegance, featuring extensive brass fittings, eighteen staterooms, and a large cabin lounge. The vessel's construction cost $78,000, reflecting her status as one of the most luxurious ships on the Great Lakes at the time. However, her design was criticized for her deep draft and narrow beam, which compromised her stability and buoyancy, especially when fully loaded. Her hull's unusual and potentially unsafe design contributed to concerns about her seaworthiness. Vernon’s service history was marked by her involvement in the Duluth to Port Arthur run on Lake Superior and briefly in the iron ore trade. She was also chartered by the Northern Michigan Line to replace a burned steamer. Her operational career was short-lived, ending tragically in a storm on October 29, 1887. While en route from Cheboygan to Chicago, she encountered severe weather, which overwhelmed her, causing her to sink near Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Only one survivor, fireman Axel Stone, was rescued from the wreckage. The ship's cargo included fish, pig iron, potatoes, and general merchandise. Discovered in 1969, the wreck lies intact in 210 feet of water, with her cargo still within her hold and her open gangways confirming reports of her overloaded condition. The sinking of Vernon remains one of Wisconsin’s deadliest maritime disasters, with between 36 and 50 lives lost. Her remains serve as a somber reminder of the perils of Great Lakes shipping and are commemorated by a monument in Two Rivers.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.