Identification & Site Information

• Name: CHAUNCY HURLBUT
• Other Names: Also recorded as CHAUNCY HURLBURT
• Official Number: 125238
• Date Built and Launched: 1873
• Builder: S. Langell, St. Clair, Michigan
• Measurements:
• Length: 185 ft (56.39 m)
• Beam: 32 ft (9.75 m)
• Depth: 21 ft (6.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,010 tons
• Net Tonnage: 829 tons
• Rebuilds: Rebuilt in 1900, Detroit, Michigan
• Date Lost: September 6, 1908
• Place of Loss: Near Vermilion Point, Michigan
• Lake: Lake Superior

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled propeller-driven freighter, designed for bulk and package freight transportation.

Description

The Chauncy Hurlbut was a large wooden propeller freighter, built in 1873 by S. Langell in St. Clair, Michigan, a prominent shipbuilding location during the era. Designed for transporting bulk and package freight, the vessel was part of the expanding fleet that catered to the booming industrial and mining sectors around the Great Lakes, particularly for hauling heavy materials like stamp sand, a byproduct of copper ore processing.

At 185 feet in length, the CHAUNCY HURLBUT was a sizable vessel for its time, reflecting the growing demand for larger, more capable freighters on the lakes. The ship underwent significant rebuilding in 1900 in Detroit, likely to extend its operational life and modernize its structure after decades of service.

History

The CHAUNCY HURLBUT served for over three decades, playing a vital role in transporting goods across the Great Lakes. However, its operational history was marked by several significant incidents, including a major fire in 1889 at West Superior, Wisconsin, which caused heavy damage. The ship’s survival and subsequent Rebuild in 1900 highlight the resilience and economic importance of such vessels during this era.

By the early 1900s, the vessel was engaged in hauling stamp sand, a common cargo in the mining regions around Lake Superior. This material, a byproduct of copper milling, was typically transported to disposal sites or used in construction and land reclamation projects.

Final Disposition

On September 6, 1908, while navigating near Vermilion Point on Lake Superior, the CHAUNCY HURLBUT encountered a severe storm. The vessel began to leak badly, and in an effort to prevent it from sinking, the crew ran it ashore. Fortunately, all 14 crew members were safely rescued by local lifesavers before the ship was pounded to pieces by the relentless waves.

The ship’s final destruction on the rocky shores near Vermilion Point underscores the hazardous conditions faced by freighters on Lake Superior, often referred to as the “Graveyard of the Great Lakes” due to its treacherous weather and remote, rugged coastlines.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There is no confirmed record of the wreck of the CHAUNCY HURLBUT being located or explored.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No navigational hazards or obstructions related to the wreck are reported in official maritime notices.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The CHAUNCY HURLBUT‘s long service life, punctuated by incidents like the 1889 fire and its eventual loss in 1908, reflects both the durability and the vulnerabilities of wooden-hulled freighters during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its role in transporting stamp sand illustrates the vessel’s connection to the copper mining industry that shaped much of the economic landscape around Lake Superior. The absence of fatalities in its final incident is a testament to the effectiveness of early Great Lakes lifesaving services, a critical component in the region’s maritime history.