IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Name: H.P. Bridge
  • Type: Wooden Barkentine, 3-Mast
  • Build Information:
  • Builder: James M. Jones
  • Year Built: 1864
  • Build Location: Detroit, Michigan
  • Specifications:
    • Length: 164 feet (50 meters)
    • Beam: 30 feet (9.1 meters)
    • Depth: 12 feet (3.7 meters)
  • Gross Tonnage: 426 tons (revised to 424 tons in 1865)
  • Net Tonnage: 400 tons
  • Date of Loss: May 11, 1869
  • Place of Loss: Approximately 40 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The H.P. Bridge was a wooden Barkentine, a three-masted sailing vessel designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Its robust construction and significant cargo capacity made it ideal for carrying bulk commodities such as grain and building materials.

HISTORY

The H.P. Bridge was launched in 1864 and owned by Elon W. Hudson of Detroit. It operated under the command of Captain Stedmanand served in the grain and building material trade across the Great Lakes. Notable achievements included completing the Detroit-to-Buffalo run in three days on October 15, 1865, transporting 36,000 bushels of wheat.

In 1865, the vessel’s Gross Tonnage was readmeasured, reducing it from 426 to 424 tons.

FINAL INCIDENT

On May 11, 1869, the H.P. Bridge was en route from Milwaukee to Detroit and Buffalo, carrying a cargo of oats and 65,000 bricks. Sailing through heavy fog on Lake Huron, about 40 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island, the vessel collided with the propeller ship Colorado.

  • Impact: The H.P. Bridge was severely damaged and sank.
  • Crew: All crew members survived, escaping via yawls or by climbing onto the bow of the Colorado.
  • Outcome: The wreck of the H.P. Bridge settled at the bottom of Lake Huron.

LEGAL DISPUTE

A collision case was brought before Judge Longyear of the United States District Court in Detroit. The court ruled in favor of the H.P. Bridge, finding the Colorado at fault for failing to exercise reasonable care, caution, and diligence.

The court ordered a decree for damages, which were to be assessed by a commission.

CARGO

  • Primary Cargo: Oats
  • Secondary Cargo: 65,000 bricks

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

  • Condition: The wreck lies in deep water southeast of Thunder Bay Island. Its state of preservation is unknown due to limited exploration.
  • Accessibility: Further research or exploration may be required to locate and assess the wreck’s condition.

SIGNIFICANCE

The H.P. Bridge stands as an important piece of Great Lakes maritime history, embodying the challenges of navigating busy trade routes in the 19th century. Its collision and subsequent legal case provide insight into early maritime law and safety practices on the lakes.

RESOURCES & LINKS

KEYWORDS H.P. Bridge, Barkentine, Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, Shipwreck, Maritime Collision, Great Lakes History

CONCLUSION

The H.P. Bridge represents the resilience and risks of Great Lakes shipping in the mid-19th century. Though lost in a tragic collision, its story remains a vital part of the Maritime History of the Great Lakes, reminding us of the challenges and innovations of that era.