SS Cumberland: Construction

Twin sister ship of SS CUMBERLAND, the SS MANITOBA, sitting in drydock at Pt. Robinson where both ships were built.

Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, 40702_175768_F

Construction

The side-wheeler Cumberland was built in 1871 at Port Robinson, Ontario, by Melanchthon Simpson for Charles Perry and Co. It was launched Wednesday August 9, 1871 (Detroit Telegram, Aug. 15, 1871). The vessel was named for Fred W. Cumberland, general manager of the Northern Railway, parent company of the Toronto and Lake Superior Navigation Company, which had the ship designed and built to run the Duluth and Collingwood or Owen Sound route.

The ship was powered by a vertical "walking-beam" engine with one boiler and a single stack. Cumberland was reported to be 208 feet on the keel and 214 feet overall with a beam of 28 feet, 43 feet 8 inches overall. The draft was 10 feet 6 in., and it was 229 tons burden, 750 tons gross measurement. The engine was rated at 400 horsepower (Detroit Free Press, Oct. 1, 1871). The ship had a round fantail stern, and its cabins were warmed by steam. The steamer had paddle wheels 30 feet in diameter (Ibid., Oct. 4, 1871).

Shipwrecks of Isle Royale

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