The Wreck of the R.J. HACKETT (1869, Bulk Freighter)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: R.J. HACKETT (also seen as ROBERT HACKETT)
• Official Number: 21934
• Year Built: 1869
• Builder: E.M. Peck
• Built at: Cleveland, OH
• Vessel Type: Propeller, Wood, Bulk Freight (Steam Barge)
• Original Owner: Captain H. C. McCallum
• Length: 211 ft (64.3 m)
• Beam: 33 ft (10 m)
• Depth: 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,129
• Net Tonnage: 922
• Final Location: Whaleback Shoal, near Cedar River, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
• Date Lost: November 12, 1905
• Cause of Loss: Stranding and fire
• Final Cargo: 1,400 tons of coal
• Loss of Life: None

Vessel Type

The R.J. HACKETT was a steam-powered bulk freighter, a pioneering vessel in Great Lakes shipping history. It is widely credited as the first purpose-built fore-and-aft cabin bulk freighter, a design that set the standard for Great Lakes steam barges.

Built in 1869 by E.M. Peck of Cleveland, the Hackett was instrumental in Great Lakes iron ore transportation. In 1871, she became the first vessel to carry iron ore into Cleveland, marking a turning point in the iron ore trade.

Description & History

The R.J. HACKETT was a revolutionary vessel, featuring a fore-and-aft cabin configuration that maximized cargo space. This design laid the foundation for the modern Great Lakes freighter and influenced the development of the self-unloading freighter decades later.

Throughout her career, the Hackett transported bulk cargo, including iron ore, coal, and lumber, between major industrial ports on the Great Lakes. She was owned and operated by Captain H.C. McCallum at the time of her loss.

Final Voyage & Wreck

On November 12, 1905, the R.J. HACKETT was bound for Marinette, WI, from Cleveland with a load of 1,400 tons of coal when she ran aground on Whaleback Shoal in Green Bay. While her crew attempted to work her free, a fire broke out aboard the vessel, spreading rapidly and burning her down to the waterline.

The crew managed to escape unharmed and was rescued by the fish Tug Stewart Edward. The Hackett’s remains later slipped off the reef into deeper water, where they remain to this day.

Legacy

The R.J. HACKETT is one of the most historically significant vessels in Great Lakes history. Her pioneering bulk freighter design revolutionized the shipping industry and paved the way for larger, more efficient freighters.

Resources & Links

For further research, visit:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessel Index
• Historical Images & Archives – Great Lakes Marine Digital Collection