Identification & Site Information

• Name: SAGINAW
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 57283
• Date Built & Launched: 1866
• Builder: Likely built in East Saginaw, Michigan (conflicting reports suggest a potential connection to a former Steamer built in Cleveland in 1850, but registration documents confirm this vessel as US#57283)
• Original Owner: Eloen W. Hudson & H.L. Brown, Detroit, Michigan
• Registration Number(s): 57283
• Measurements: Length: 138 ft (42.06 m) Beam: 26 ft (7.92 m) Depth: 13 ft (3.96 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 310 tons
• Net Tonnage: 296 tons

Vessel Type

The SAGINAW was a wooden Schooner-Barge, a vessel type commonly used on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Originally built as a Schooner, she likely had her rigging reduced over time, functioning primarily as a Barge towed by steam tugs, while still retaining some sailing capability for stability and auxiliary power.

Description

Constructed in 1866, the SAGINAW measured 138 feet in length with a 26-foot beam and a Draft of 13 feet, making her well-suited for bulk cargo transportation. Built with a wooden Hull, she was typical of Great Lakes Schooner-barges of the time, designed to carry heavy loads of materials such as lumber, coal, or iron ore.

Her official registration documents (US#57283) confirm her build year and place, though some newspaper reportsspeculate that she might have been converted from the former Steamer SAGINAW (US#23509), built in Cleveland in 1850. However, official records refute this, identifying her as a distinct vessel built in East Saginaw, Michigan.

History

The SAGINAW served as a lumber barge during an era when Schooner-barges were integral to the booming timber industry, hauling lumber from northern Michigan and Ontario ports to growing cities along the Great Lakes. She operated under the ownership of Eloen W. Hudson and H.L. Brown of Detroit, with Captain Bunting serving as her master.

On August 27, 1880, the SAGINAW was part of a tow of four barges under the command of the Tug ALANSON SUMNER, navigating through Lake Erie during a severe gale. As the storm intensified off Port Stanley, Ontario, the SAGINAW, positioned as the last Barge in the tow, broke free from the Tug’s Towline, a common hazard during rough weather when the strain on towing cables became overwhelming.

Adrift and unable to maneuver effectively in the gale, the SAGINAW was driven ashore, becoming waterlogged. Remarkably, the Schooner H.M. SCOVE, itself under tow by the Tug STRANGER, arrived on the scene and managed to rescue the crew of the SAGINAW, along with one sailor’s dog, who had clung to the wreck for over 20 hours in perilous conditions—a testament to both the resilience of the crew and the dangers faced during Great Lakes storms.

Final Disposition

After the crew was rescued, the SAGINAW remained a derelict waterlogged wreck, partially submerged but still visible from the surface. To mark its position as a navigational hazard, a signal lantern was hung on the wreck—an important safety measure intended to warn passing ships. Tragically, the lantern’s flame eventually ignited the vessel, setting it ablaze. The wooden structure, already compromised by the storm and saturated with flammable materials common in ship construction (such as tar and pitch), burned completely, leaving the SAGINAW a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

There are no confirmed records regarding the current status of the wreck. Given the circumstances of her destruction—both grounding and burning—the remains may have been scattered, buried under sediment, or salvaged in the years following the incident.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the SAGINAW’s wreck site off Port Stanley, Ontario. However, the shallow waters near Port Stanley have been historically treacherous, with numerous shipwrecks in the vicinity due to storms and shifting shoals.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
• Great Lakes Ships
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Port Stanley Terminal Rail and Maritime Museum

Conclusion

The story of the SAGINAW is emblematic of the challenges faced by Schooner-barges on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Subject to the whims of fierce storms, mechanical failures, and the limitations of contemporary maritime technology, vessels like the SAGINAW were often at the mercy of the elements. While her loss was total, the dramatic rescue of her crew and even a beloved shipboard dog underscores the human resilience in the face of maritime disaster. Today, her tale remains a poignant chapter in the broader history of Great Lakes shipwrecks.