Shipwreck Report: JAMES H. HALL (1885)

Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner with Auxiliary Gas Engine

Description

The JAMES H. HALL was a two-masted wooden Schooner, built in 1885 by Hanson & Scove in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Primarily used for cargo transport, the vessel had a long working life on the Great Lakes.

In her later years, she was equipped with an auxiliary gas engine, making her part of a transitional era between sail-powered and engine-assisted schooners. This engine was suspected of playing a role in her final disaster.

At the time of her loss, JAMES H. HALL was owned by D. Seavey of Escanaba, Michigan, a port city known for its lumber and shipping industries.

Final Voyage & Loss

On November 7, 1916, the JAMES H. HALL was sailing near Thunder Bay, south of Alpena, Michigan, when she caught fire and burned to a Total Loss.

Some accounts suggest that before the fire, the Schooner struck a stone pier, causing damage that led to the fire. The vessel’s gasoline-powered auxiliary engine was also suspected of contributing to the fire, which spread too rapidly to control.

The exact details of casualties remain unclear, but records do not confirm any loss of life, suggesting that the crew may have escaped safely.

The burned-out Hull was Abandoned, marking the end of a 31-year career on the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition

Burned to a Total Loss and Abandoned near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River, south of Alpena, Michigan, on November 7, 1916.

  • Possible cause: Fire, potentially linked to auxiliary gas engine or collision with a stone pier
  • Crew casualties: Unknown (no confirmed loss of life)
  • Declared a Total Loss

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of JAMES H. HALL‘s wreck being located.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no known navigational advisories related to the wreck site.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The JAMES H. HALL represents a classic Great Lakes Schooner, which was later converted with an early auxiliary gas engine, marking a transition between sail-powered and engine-assisted vessels.

Her destruction by fire in 1916 highlights the risks associated with early gasoline engines aboard wooden ships. Whether the fire was directly caused by a mechanical failure or was a secondary event following a collision with a stone pier remains unclear.

Although the wreck has never been found, it is likely scattered or buried near Thunder Bay, an area rich in maritime history and shipwreck sites.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: JAMES H. HALL shipwreck, Thunder Bay Schooner fire, Alpena Michigan wreck, auxiliary gas engine dangers, Great Lakes schooners
  • Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Schooner Losses, Fire-Related Shipwrecks, 20th Century Maritime Disasters, Hybrid Sail & Engine Vessels
  • Glossary Terms:
  • Auxiliary Gas Engine: A small gasoline engine installed in sailing ships to provide additional propulsion when wind power was insufficient.
  • Thunder Bay River: A major shipping and logging route near Alpena, Michigan, leading into Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay.
  • Stone Pier Collision: A common cause of ship damage, particularly in foggy or stormy conditions, where vessels struck submerged or unmarked piers.