Identification & Site Information

• Name: HUNTER
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 11139
• Date Built and Launched: 1857
• Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, New York
• Original Type: Wooden Propeller Steamer
• Converted Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge (converted in 1870)
• Measurements:
• As a Propeller: 192 ft (58.52 m) x 31 ft (9.45 m) x 12 ft (3.66 m), 680 gross tons
• As a Barge: 590 tons (post-Conversion)
• Date Lost: September 28, 1872
• Place of Loss: Near Greenbush, south of Harrisville, Michigan
• Lake: Huron

Vessel Type

Originally built as a wooden Propeller Steamer, the HUNTER was later converted into a Schooner-Barge in 1870 after sustaining significant damage. Schooner-barges were typically towed behind steamers and used for transporting bulk materials such as coal or lumber.

Description

The HUNTER was constructed in 1857 by Bidwell & Banta in Buffalo, New York, a major shipbuilding center on the Great Lakes. Initially a propeller-driven Steamer, the vessel was large for its time, measuring 192 feet in length and weighing 680 gross tons. It served in the growing freight industry, likely hauling bulk commodities between major Great Lakes ports.

After a collision in 1869 with the propeller Steamer COMET on the Detroit River, the HUNTER sank and was later converted into a Schooner-Barge in 1870. During this Conversion, its engine was salvaged and installed in the Sidewheel Steamer Detroit (US# 6189), which was also converted into a Propeller Steamer. Ironically, it was this same Detroit that was towing the HUNTER at the time of its final loss in 1872.

History

The HUNTER‘s operational life was marked by multiple incidents and rebuilds, reflecting the challenges faced by 19th-century Great Lakes vessels. After a major fire in Chicago in 1862, the vessel required significant repairs, and two lives were lost during that incident. The ship’s Conversion into a Barge in 1870 extended its service life, allowing it to continue transporting coal and lumber on Lake Huron and other Great Lakes routes.

As a Schooner-Barge, the HUNTER was towed by larger steamers, a common practice to maximize cargo capacity without the need for additional powered vessels.

Final Disposition

On September 28, 1872, while being towed upbound by the Propeller Steamer Detroit, the HUNTER encountered a storm on Lake Huron near Greenbush, south of Harrisville, Michigan. The vessel was lost from its Towline, driven ashore, and subsequently broke apart in the rough conditions.

Despite the destruction of the vessel, no lives were lost during the incident. The remains of the HUNTER were abandoned as a Total Loss, marking the end of its tumultuous 15-year history.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There is no documented discovery of the wreck of the HUNTER near Greenbush, Michigan. Given the vessel’s breakup, any remains would likely be scattered along the shoreline or submerged in shallow water.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No navigational hazards related to this wreck are currently reported near Harrisville, Michigan.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The HUNTER‘s storied history highlights the adaptability and resilience of Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century. Originally a Propeller Steamer, the ship endured fires, collisions, and sinkings, only to be Rebuilt and repurposed as a Schooner-Barge. Its eventual loss in a storm on Lake Huron while under tow reflects the persistent dangers faced by these vessels, even after Conversion. The HUNTER‘s connection to the Detroit, both in terms of sharing its engine and being towed by it at the time of its loss, adds an ironic twist to its final chapter.

If you’re interested in more about the propeller COMET, the Detroit, or other vessels lost in the same area, let me know!