Shipwreck Report – Langell Boys

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Langell Boys
• Year Built: 1890
• Official Number: 141067
• Vessel Type: Wooden Steambarge
• Final Location: 6 miles south of AuSable, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Date Lost: June 13, 1931
• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: None (crew rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard)
• Built At: St. Clair, Michigan
• Builder: Simon Langell
• Original Owner: Simon Langell & Sons, St. Clair, MI
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Propulsion: Screw
• Engine Type: For-and-Aft Compound Engine
• Cylinders: 2
• Boilers: 1 (Firebox Boiler)
• Propellers: 1
• Engine Builder: Samuel F. Hodge & Co., Detroit, MI, 1890
• Boiler Builder: Lake Erie Boiler Works, Buffalo, NY, 1890
• Engine Specs:
• 16″, 32″ x 30″, 300 hp @ 85 rpm
• Boiler Size: 8′ 6″ x 13′, 120# steam
• Length: 151 ft (46 m) (Rebuilt in 1921 to 156.6 ft (47.7 m))
• Beam: 30.3 ft (9.2 m) (Rebuilt in 1921 to 33.8 ft (10.3 m))
• Depth: 11.2 ft (3.4 m) (Rebuilt in 1921 to 10.6 ft (3.2 m))
• Gross Tonnage: 387.44 (Rebuilt in 1921 to 467.57)
• Net Tonnage: 286.13
• Capacity: 400,000 board feet of lumber

Vessel Type

The Langell Boys was a wooden steambarge, a type of vessel designed to transport bulk cargo such as lumber on the Great Lakes. These ships were sturdy but vulnerable to fire, a common hazard for wooden steamers.

Description

The Langell Boys was built in 1890 by Simon Langell & Sons in St. Clair, Michigan, and served primarily in the Great Lakes lumber trade. Originally 151 feet long, it was lengthened and modified in 1921, increasing its size and tonnage. Over its 41-year career, the vessel was Rebuilt, trapped in ice, and suffered cargo losses, but remained a working vessel until its fiery demise in 1931.

History & Notable Events

• 1890, July 8 – Launched in St. Clair, MI.
• 1890, July 17 – Enrolled in Port Huron, MI.
• 1891-1892 – Regularly towed lumber barges such as J.W. Hanaford, Johnson, and J.B. Comstock.
• 1898 – Lost 100,000 feet of Deck cargo in a storm off Racine, WI.
• 1921 – Underwent major reconstruction at the Sidney McLouth yard in Marine City, MI, where it was lengthened, widened, and refitted.
• 1927 – Locked in ice for 67 days, 30-35 miles from Bay City, Michigan, 20 miles offshore.
• 1931, June 13 – Caught fire near AuSable, MI, burned, and sank in Lake Huron. The crew was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• 1931, June 17 – Officially removed from the ship registry, with its enrollment surrendered at Port Huron, MI.

Final Disposition

The Langell Boys caught fire and sank on June 13, 1931, 6 miles south of AuSable, MI, in Lake Huron. Despite attempts to save the vessel, the fire completely destroyed the ship, and it was declared a Total Loss. The crew survived, thanks to a timely rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Located By & Date Found

• No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck site.
• The wreck may still be undiscovered or scattered in deep waters off AuSable, Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• Potential wreckage hazard south of AuSable, Michigan.
• Unconfirmed wreck location – further exploration is needed to locate the remains.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes – www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• David Swayze Shipwreck File – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Conclusion

The Langell Boys was a dedicated workhorse of the Great Lakes lumber trade, operating for over 40 years before meeting its fiery end in 1931. Despite numerous challenges, including losing cargo, ice entrapment, and ownership changes, the vessel remained active until its destruction near AuSable, Michigan. While its wreck has yet to be officially located, the Langell Boys is an important part of Great Lakes shipping history, representing an era when wooden steam-powered vessels dominated regional trade.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Langell Boys shipwreck, Lake Huron wrecks, Great Lakes lumber steamers, AuSable shipwrecks, 19th-century steambarges
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Huron History, Wooden Steamers, Lumber Trade, Maritime Disasters
• Glossary Terms: Steambarge, Screw Propulsion, Firebox Boiler, Ice Entrapment, Great Lakes Trade

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