- Schooner Barge
- 150ft 50m Lengths
- 9ffw 3m Depths
- Richmondville, MI, Lake Huron
- N 43° 35.480 W 082° 28.204
Title: The Loss of the Schooner-Barge SAMUEL BOLTON: A Foggy Tragedy on Lake Huron
The Samuel Bolton, also known as Sam D. Bolton or Samuel Bolten, was a wooden schooner-barge that met its untimely end in a tragic incident on Lake Huron. Originally built as a schooner in 1867 by G. Carpenter in Bangor, Michigan, the vessel was later converted into a schooner-barge. On September 19, 1893, while being towed in a dense fog, the Samuel Bolton was lost when it broke free and drifted ashore near Richmondville, Michigan. The impact caused the vessel to break in two, and subsequent waves tore it apart. This article delves into the construction and specifications of the Samuel Bolton, its ownership history, the circumstances surrounding its loss, and its final fate.
The Samuel Bolton was constructed in 1867 in W. Bay City, Michigan, as a wooden schooner. It had a length of 150.2 feet, a beam of 30.4 feet, and a depth of 9.2 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 330 and a net tonnage of 314. Originally equipped with three masts, it was later converted into a schooner-barge.
The Samuel Bolton was initially owned by J. M. Ballentine & Co. of Detroit, Michigan. Over the years, ownership changed hands, with subsequent owners including Candler Bros. and Brazil Hoose, both based in Detroit.
On September 19, 1893, the Samuel Bolton was being towed in a dense fog, likely bound from Cheboygan to Tonawanda, carrying a cargo of lumber. Unfortunately, the vessel broke free from the towing vessel in stormy conditions and drifted ashore near Richmondville, Michigan. The impact caused the schooner-barge to break in two, and subsequent waves further damaged the vessel. Stripped of valuable materials, the wreck was abandoned on September 21. It is worth noting that a vessel believed to be the Samuel Bolton was found near Richmondville in 1960.
The Samuel Bolton, originally built as a schooner in 1867, met its tragic end as a schooner-barge on Lake Huron. During a tow in dense fog, the vessel broke free and drifted ashore near Richmondville, Michigan, on September 19, 1893. The impact of the grounding caused the vessel to split in two, and subsequent wave action further dismantled the wreck. Stripped and abandoned, the Samuel Bolton served as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by mariners navigating the treacherous waters of Lake Huron. Its final fate, coupled with the vessel’s ownership history and specifications, highlights the challenging conditions and risks associated with maritime trade in the late 19th century.
