Other Names
- Daniel Bell
The DANIEL BALL, sometimes recorded as Daniel Bell, was a wooden sidewheeler freighter built in 1861 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It had an official number of 6199 and measured 142 feet in length, 21 feet in beam, and 5 feet in depth. The vessel weighed 123 tons according to old-style tonnage measurements.
On October 19, 1876, tragedy struck the Daniel Ball in Bay City, Michigan, when a fire broke out near its stack. The fire quickly spread, consuming the ship until it burned down to the waterline. Fortunately, the captain managed to maneuver the vessel alongside a log raft, allowing the passengers and crew to disembark safely without any injuries. The loss of the Daniel Ball amounted to an estimated $12,000 to $15,000. The ship’s documents were surrendered at Port Huron on January 14, 1879. There is a mention that the vessel may have been recovered in Detroit on October 17.
News reports from the time highlight the incident, emphasizing that all passengers and crew were saved. The Daniel Ball was valued at $15,000, with insurance covering approximately half of that amount.
Following the loss of the Daniel Ball, plans were made to replace it with a new steamer named W. R. Burt. The new vessel, launched on the Saginaw River, was considered a fine example of marine architecture, measuring 150 feet on the keel and 154 feet overall, with a beam width of 39 feet. It was expected to be ready for service the following month, with Robert Medler as captain, H. W. Booth as clerk, and Homer Gregory as engineer.
In October 1877, a legal case was brought by the owners of the Daniel Ball against the Royal Canadian Insurance Company. The plaintiffs sought to obtain $3,000, the insured amount for the vessel, plus interest, following its destruction by fire on Lake Huron on October 17, 1876. The verdict awarded the plaintiffs $3,155.75.
The Daniel Ball, with an official horsepower of 85, was enrolled in Detroit and had its homeport in Grand Haven, Michigan.
