Identification & Site Information
- Built: 1856 by V. Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, NY
- Specs: 185 ft length × 30 ft beam × 11 ft depth; 774 gross tons (manitouislandsarchives.org)
- Type: Wooden propeller steam bulk freighter
- Registered Owner at Loss: Captain George Felcher, Saginaw, MI (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss Details
- Date: November 24, 1874
- Location: Burned in Emerson Bayou, a tributary of the Saginaw River, Michigan (manitouislandsarchives.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cargo/Crew: Not carrying cargo; no crew casualties (“none”) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause: Fire likely sparked by a watchman’s lantern or stove; indications suggest deliberate destruction (“profitably disposed of”) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- Declared a Total Loss as the fire consumed the wooden Hull.
- Official Registry: Documentation surrendered at Port Huron on January 14, 1878 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Site Condition & Archaeological Context
Given the destructive nature of fire and likely scuttling, remnants would be minimal—possibly charcoal remnants, iron machinery fragments, or submerged boiler parts within silty bayou sediments. No documented modern surveys exist.
Research Gaps & Actionable Steps
| Topic | Proposed Action |
|---|---|
| Ownership Records | Investigate Captain Felcher’s registry and insurance files in Saginaw archives. |
| Local Press Coverage | Examine Saginaw and Bay City newspapers (Nov–Dec 1874) for reports, eyewitnesses, or insurance valuation. |
| Fire Origin | Seek legal or captain’s inquiry documents to confirm whether the fire was accidental or intentional. |
| Salvage or Site Survey | Conduct low-tech sediment coring in Emerson Bayou near the moorage site to test for metal debris. |
| Registry Documentation | Acquire tender for Port Huron’s surrendered documents (Jan 14, 1878) to understand final disposition rationale. |
Summary Snapshot
- Name: Neptune
- Built: 1856, Buffalo
- Type: Wooden propeller steam bulk freighter
- Loss: Burned to the waterline Nov 24, 1874, Emerson Bayou, Saginaw River
- Crew: Survived; none reported lost
- Disposition: Burned Hull, registry closed in Jan 1878
- Condition: Likely pulverized; potential subsurface debris
- Significance: A rare instance of a deliberate or accidental fire loss in a tributary, offering insight into Steamboat hazards and salvage practices.
Significance & Research Value
- Highlights fire risks aboard wooden steamers in enclosed waterways and small docking sites.
- Raises questions about economic motives and regulatory oversight—particularly if intentional scuttling occurred.
- Even minimal archaeological remnants could inform on structural layouts, machinery, and Steamboat mooring practices in 19th-century Saginaw River commerce.