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In 25 feet of water east of Key Largo, the remains of the City of Washington lie on Elbow Reef. On July 10, 1917 the tugboat Luchenbach #4 towing the City of Washington and the Seneca ran aground on Elbow Reef. The Luchenbach #4 and the Seneca were soon refloated, but the City of Washington broke up and was a total loss within a few minutes.
The City of Washington was built at Roach's Shipyard in Chester, Pennsylvania as a two-masted sailing vessel, but also with a small 650 horsepower engine. She was launched in 1887 for use in passenger transport and the cargo trade between New York, Cuba, and Mexico. She could accommodate 100 first class passengers with 75 staterooms besides accommodations for crew and 250 steerage passengers. In 1889 she was refitted with a 2,750 h.p. steam engine which dramatically reduced her sailing time.
The City of Washington's moment in history came the night of February 15, 1898. Because of deteriorating relations between the United States and Spain over the rebellion in Cuba, the USS Maine was moored in Havana Harbor to protect American interests. That night the Maine exploded. The City of Washington was moored close by and suffered damage to her awnings and deck houses by flying debris. Her crew assisted in the rescue of the Maine survivors.
This was the final event leading to the Spanish-American War. During the war, the City of Washington was used as a transport ship carrying troops. She returned to her passenger and cargo runs following the war until retirement in 1908. Three years later she was purchased and converted into a coal-transporting barge.
Archaeology:
The wreck site of the City of Washington is 325 feet long and contains mostly the lower bilge section of the steel hull. The hull structure can be followed for most of its contour, although several huge gaps are present. The bow section is badly damaged. While the site is concentrated, scattered features extend 140 feet from the main axis of the ship.
Significant identifiable features include; half of a gear which was part of the mechanism used to lift cargo into the vessel, a segment of the forward mast, a chock from the port side of the vessel, a deck ladder, the bilge pump assembly, the propeller shaft log running through the hull, several hull plate sections with port holes, the top rail with deck rigging holes, and the stern rail assembly. Click for diagram.
Marine Life Commonly Observed on this Site:
Watch for these fish: yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, moray eels, midnight parrotfish, and blue tangs. Look for these bottom dwelling organisms: sea fans, sea plumes, branching fire coral, knobby brain coral, elliptical star coral, and lesser starlet coral.
Silent World Dive Center is located at MileMarker 103.2 bayside, in Key Largo's Central Plaza. For reservations or further information, call us at 800-966-DIVE (3483) or 305-451-3252; write us at P.O. Box 2363, Key Largo FL 33037, or email us at Silent World. We look forward to meeting you!
