TRAFFIC – Identification & Site Information

• Official No.: 24506
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Tug & upriver Packet, wood
• Build Info: 1853, O.V. Kelfferich, St. Clair, MI
• Specs: 75 x 16 x 5 ft, 50 tons
• Date of Loss: 1869, Oct 11
• Place of Loss: Saginaw River, at Saginaw, MI
• Lake: Huron
• Type of Loss: Fire

History and Description

The TRAFFIC was a sidewheel Tug and upriver Packet that operated primarily in the Saginaw River region. Built in 1853 by O.V. Kelfferich in St. Clair, MI, she was a wooden vessel measuring 75 feet in length, with a beam of 16 feetand a depth of 5 feet, weighing in at 50 tons. Her design, featuring sidewheels, was typical of river tugboats of that era, which were used for towing barges, vessels, and for passenger travel upriver.

In her later years, the TRAFFIC was primarily used as a Tug and Packet on the Saginaw River—a vital waterway connecting the port of Saginaw with the larger Lake Huron region. The vessel played an important role in moving goods and passengers along this key stretch of water.

Final Disposition

On October 11, 1869, the TRAFFIC was destroyed by fire while operating on the Saginaw River at Saginaw, Michigan. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain unclear, but it led to her Total Loss. In some records, her location is mistakenly given as Milwaukee, though this appears to be an error.

Interestingly, the TRAFFIC had previously experienced another incident. On June 8, 1868, the vessel sank near Sebewaing, Michigan, but she was later recovered. This earlier mishap did not lead to her final loss, but it likely contributed to the vessel’s continued struggle with maintaining service.

Notable Events and Current Status

The TRAFFIC’s fate was sealed by the devastating fire in 1869, and there were no records of significant loss of life during the incident.  The ship’s earlier wreck in 1868 near Sebewaing serves as an important marker in her history, demonstrating the vulnerability of wooden steam-powered vessels to both fire and navigational accidents.

Resources & Links

For additional information on the TRAFFIC and similar shipwrecks in the Saginaw River area, the following resources can provide further details:

• Michigan Shipwrecks Database: Offers extensive records on vessels lost in Michigan’s rivers and lakes. 
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships
• Great Lakes Historical Society: A major resource for maritime history and shipwrecks of the Great Lakes region.
• The Saginaw River Historical Society: Dedicated to the preservation and history of the river’s maritime activities.

Conclusion

The TRAFFIC represents an example of the struggles faced by 19th-century wooden steam-powered vessels, particularly those operating in the busy waterways of the Great Lakes region. While her fire-related loss in 1869 is the definitive end to her story, the vessel’s earlier mishap and role as a Tug and Packet on the Saginaw River remain important parts of her history.