Site Description
- Steam Barge
- Lake Superior
Chronological History #
The steam barge St. Clair had a series of ownership changes before meeting its tragic end. It ran aground at Fighting Island in the Detroit River on October 29, 1867. Ownership shifted multiple times, with Ira H. Owen and the Escanaba & Lake Michigan Transportation Co. in possession on March 24, 1871. Eben R. Ayres and others from Sandusky, Ohio, took ownership on March 1, 1872, followed by Charles H. Westcott of Detroit on May 26, 1873. J.M. Nicol and Ward’s Central & Pacific Lake Co., both from Detroit, owned the vessel as of April 4, 1874.
In 1876, the St. Clair underwent a major reconstruction in Detroit. An upper deck was added, and the cabin was extended, resulting in an increased gross tonnage of 326.78. However, tragedy struck on July 9, 1876, when the steam barge caught fire on Lake Superior. The vessel burned to the waterline and sank off 14 Mile Point, Eagle River, Michigan. The St. Clair was carrying passengers, cattle, and merchandise as its final cargo. Unfortunately, the disaster claimed the lives of 15 passengers and 9 crew members out of a total of 31 or 32 individuals on board.
News reports from the time provide additional details of the tragic event. The fire broke out around 2 o’clock on Sunday morning, and within minutes, the entire vessel was engulfed in smoke and flames. Only one boat was launched, and despite efforts to equip everyone with life preservers, the rush to reach the swamped yawl led to further loss of life. The water was bitterly cold, and the St. Clair was approximately five miles from the shore. Captain Robert Rhyness and a few others managed to survive, but the majority of the passengers and crew perished. Search efforts were initiated to recover the bodies of those lost in the tragedy.
