Site Description #
- Propeller
- 170 ft 53m Lengths
- 200ffw is 65m Depths
- Port Austin, MI Lake Huron
The propeller CITY OF DETROIT was a vessel that met a tragic fate in Saginaw Bay on December 4, 1873. The ship, with a total of 26 persons on board, including crew and passengers, sank during a severe storm. The CITY OF DETROIT was towing the barge GUIDING STAR, laden with 24,000 bushels of wheat, while the propeller itself carried 8,000 bushels of wheat and additional rolling freight.
As the storm intensified, the propeller became disabled and could no longer hold onto the barge. The crew made the difficult decision to cut the barge loose and attempt to save themselves. Captain Morris Barrett and seven crew members from the GUIDING STAR managed to reach Port Elgin, Ontario, in a yawl boat, though their feet were fully frozen.
Captain Barrett reported that he saw three members of the CITY OF DETROIT’s crew in a yawl boat, while another individual was spotted in a separate boat. Unfortunately, it is believed that the rest of the crew went down with the propeller when it sank in Saginaw Bay. The exact number of lives lost in the disaster was reported to be 19.
The propeller CITY OF DETROIT, built in 1866 in Marine City, Michigan, had a length of 167 feet, a beam of 27.7 feet, and a depth of 12.1 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 652 tons and was powered by a high-pressure engine. The vessel primarily operated as a passenger and freight carrier.
The sinking of the CITY OF DETROIT was a devastating event and one of the worst disasters to occur within Saginaw Bay. The cause of the sinking was attributed to the stormy conditions and the disabling of the propeller’s machinery. The tragedy served as a reminder of the dangers faced by sailors and the unpredictable nature of the Great Lakes.
