Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: Danube
- Official Number: 6 109
- Year Built: 1852
- Built At: Oswego, New York by N. Collins
- Type: Wooden Barkentine (three-masted)
- Original Owner: Moses Merrick & John Miner (Merrick & Co.)
- Dimensions: 134 ft L, 25½ ft beam, 11½ ft depth; ~369 gross tons
- Registry: Oswego, Great Lakes service
- Hull: Wood (Centerboard-equipped) as per lab-built records (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, internationalmaritimelibrary.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Operational History
- 1853–1860s: Regularly engaged in bulk trade—carrying salt, lumber, etc.—across Lake Ontario and beyond
- 1853 Grounding: Went ashore on Peach Island, St. Clair River
- 1856: Grounded on Round Island, Straits of Mackinac; later refloated (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- 1858–1863: Repeated minor incidents including grounding (Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, St. Clair) and collisions with Robert Burns and Dreadnought in the Huron and St. Clair passages
- 1868: Converted to a timber Barge, reinforcing its Hull and adapting it for tow use
Final Incident & Loss
- Approximately 1884: Likely wrecked—records indicate loss but site and date unspecified (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- 20 November 1890: Document annotated “Wrecked – Total Loss” surrendered at Port Huron, official registry closed (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Possible Cause: Broke adrift from tow (A.P. Wright) during gale; ashore and rescued by Life-Saving Service; partially recovered later, but ultimately declared a constructive Total Loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck Site & Current Condition
- Unknown wreck location: Contemporary accounts suggest she grounded ashore and broke in pieces; any remains likely destroyed or removed
- Salvage Attempts: Auctioned hulk shows occasional later registry entries (Milwaukee, Chicago) before fading from records after 1888 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical & Archaeological Significance
- Danube exemplifies the evolution from sail-powered craft to barges used in tow operations on the Great Lakes
- Her approximate four-decade career demonstrates durability and adaptability—grounded, repaired, converted, and towed
- The circumstances of her breaking adrift in a storm highlight the vulnerabilities of wooden tow-barges
- Lack of precise wreck location emphasizes the challenges in documenting these coastal losses
Key Data Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1852, Oswego, NY |
| Type | Wooden Barkentine → Schooner-Barge (1868) |
| Gross Tonnage | ~369 tons |
| Service Lifespan | 1853–c. 1890 |
| Loss Documented | 20 Nov 1890 (registry surrender) |
| Cause of Loss | Grounding/breaking adrift during gale |
| Casualties | None recorded; crew rescued |
| Wreck Condition | Likely destroyed or salvaged; no site identified |
Sources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files on “Danube” details (groundings, conversions, registry note) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
- Wisconin Shipwrecks profile confirming Centerboard design and build details (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Recommendations for Further Research
- Local Archives: Oswego and Port Huron newspapers (c. 1880s–1890) may hold rescue or auction details
- Life-Saving Service Logs: Could reveal specific station rescue narratives or storm reports
- Registry Records: Municipal and marine registries may note transfer of Hull or salvage activity post‑1888