The SS Wexford was a steel-hulled, propeller-driven cargo vessel constructed by William Doxford & Sons in Sunderland, Great Britain, in 1883. Designed for maritime transportation, she featured a robust steel hull and was equipped with a propeller propulsion system, typical of cargo ships of her era. Her official number was 87342, and she bore the hull number 00145, serving as identifiers throughout her operational life. Throughout her service, the vessel underwent several ownership and name changes. Originally named Wexford, she was renamed Elise from 1898 to 1903 before reverting to her original name. At the time of her sinking, she was owned by the Western Steamship Company, operating within the Great Lakes region. On November 9, 1913, during the infamous Great Lakes storm of 1913, the SS Wexford was lost on Lake Huron. She was carrying a cargo of approximately 96,000 bushels of wheat when she sank. The disaster resulted in the loss of all hands, with reports citing a crew complement between 17 and 24 individuals, although exact numbers vary. The ship's sinking marked a tragic chapter in Great Lakes maritime history and exemplifies the perilous conditions faced by ships navigating these waters during severe storms. The wreck of the SS Wexford was discovered on August 25, 2000. Sitting upright and largely intact in 75 feet of water on the lakebed, the wreck remains a significant maritime archaeological site. To honor the crew who perished during the storm, a copper wreath was placed on the wreck on the 100th anniversary of the disaster. The Wexford's remains serve as a poignant reminder of the storm's destructive power and the dangers faced by early 20th-century cargo ships operating on the Great Lakes.

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