History #
The ARAXES was a propeller vessel built in 1856 by Francis N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. It was originally owned by the Buffalo & Toledo Transportation Co. and later came under the ownership of the Southern Michigan & New York Central Railroad Lines. The vessel had a length of 179 feet 4 inches, a beam of 30 feet 2 inches, and a depth of 11 feet 7 inches, with a tonnage of 593 5/95.
Throughout its history, the ARAXES encountered various incidents and underwent repairs and modifications. In 1863, it struck a rock in Cleveland Harbor and subsequently sank but was later raised. The vessel experienced large repairs in 1863-1864 and was re-measured in 1865, resulting in new dimensions and increased tonnage. It changed ownership several times, with the Union Steamboat Co., Bartholemew McCabe, Charles Jessemin, and Matthew Wagner, among others, having possession of the vessel at different periods.
In 1873-1874, the ARAXES was rebuilt as a steam barge and engaged in the ore trade, transporting cargo from Marquette, Michigan, to Black Rock, New York. The vessel faced various challenges, such as a broken shaft and lost propeller in 1870 and repairs to the hull and boiler in 1887. It also experienced incidents of grounding and abandonment near Sand Beach, Michigan, in 1890, but was rescued by Reid Wrecking and Towing.
The final fate of the ARAXES occurred in the summer of 1894. It foundered four miles off Bay City Ice Co.’s ice house in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. The wreck was located in 1895 but was deemed uneconomical to raise or salvage due to its age. The vessel was ultimately sunk and abandoned, with the documents surrendered on June 30, 1894.
Unfortunately, the exact details regarding loss of life, the cargo being carried at the time, and other specific circumstances are not available in the provided information. The ARAXES’ story is one of a vessel that navigated the Great Lakes for several decades, enduring various challenges and ultimately meeting its end in the stormy waters of Lake Huron.
