Wooden Propeller Steam Barge – Lake Superior / Michigan

Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type Description

Roanoke was a typical wooden propeller Barge of the late 19th century, employed in bulk transport on the upper Great Lakes. Though built as a Steam Barge, she relied heavily on cargo runs such as salt and presumably assisted towing.

Description of the Loss

She caught fire from a lamp in her engine room during fine weather, while underway in rough lake conditions. The fire quickly engulfed the engine space and spread throughout the vessel. The crew Abandoned ship and were picked up by the passing Steamer George Spencer. Roanoke burned to a Total Loss offshore, sinking in approximately 202 fathoms (≈ 1,212 feet) of water. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

History & Operational Chronology

  • Listed in registry with loss date 1894, built prior as early as 1867 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Owned by W. F. Botsford and C. D. Thompson of Port Huron and Capt. J. W. Martin of Milwaukee, operating under the Port Huron & Washburn Line. Master during sinking was Capt. Alonzo “Lon” Cox (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • The Roanoke had previous incidents including burning at Detroit on 4 July the previous year, and a grounding at Grand Haven on 3 February 1892, but was repaired each time and returned to service (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Final Disposition

The vessel was declared a Total Loss after the fire. Registry was closed in March 1910, though no salvage is recorded. The engine was later salvaged and installed in the Tug D. S. Pratt (built 1911), indicating partial recovery after sinking (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Notams & Advisories

  • None noted. There is no known record of official navigational hazard bulletins or mariner notices referencing this incident.

Gaps & Further Research Potential

  • Exact build origin (shipyard) and official number remain undetermined.
  • Crew roster and casualty specifics are not found in existing summaries.
  • Contemporary newspaper accounts (e.g. Port Huron, Duluth, Sault Ste. Marie) may contain eyewitness or technical details.
  • Insurance claims and local registry documents could provide vessel specifications and ownership transitions.

Resources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress “R‑Section”:
    Provides registry build date (1867), loss date (7 August 1894), incident description including cause (lamp fire), cargo (salt), crew rescue details, sinking depth, ownership, and engine recovery notes (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Keywords & Glossary

Wooden Steam Barge, propeller Barge, lamp-caused fire, salt cargo, Port Huron & Washburn Line, Port Huron, engine room fire, 19th-century Great Lakes vessel, lost 1894.

Summary

The Roanoke, a wooden propeller Steam Barge launched circa 1867, met her end on 7 August 1894, offshore in Lake Michigan or Superior-bound route, while carrying salt from Port Huron toward Duluth. A lamp fire in the engine room led to rapid conflagration. The crew evacuated and were rescued by the Steamer George Spencer. The vessel burned and sank in over 200 fathoms of water, declared a Total Loss. Her engine was salvaged and reused in the Tug D. S. Pratt. No modern archaeological survey exists, and additional archival research is recommended to refine the vessel’s technical and operational profile.