Site Description #
- Steam Barge
- 110ft 33m lengths
- 35ffw 10 Depths
- St. Clair River Flats
- Lake St. Clair
History #
The George T. Burroughs was a wooden steambarge that was built in 1881 by Davis & Brondage in Chicago, Illinois. It had an official number of 85662. The vessel measured 109 feet in length, 24.2 feet in width, and 8.7 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 180 tons and a net tonnage of 111 tons.
The steambarge was powered by a high-pressure steam engine with one cylinder, producing 375 horsepower at 105 revolutions per minute. It had a single propeller and was equipped with a 90-pound firebox boiler. The engine and machinery were manufactured in Glasgow in 1881, while the boiler was built by R. Davis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Initially, the George T. Burroughs was owned by R.A. Davis and Louis Brondage of Chicago. However, ownership changed hands over the years. In August 1881, it came under the ownership of Albert H. Petrie of Muskegon, Michigan. The vessel operated between Chicago and Muskegon during that period.
On August 8, 1881, the George T. Burroughs caught fire near Gross Pointe, Evanston, Illinois, and burned to the water’s edge. The hull was then towed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it was rebuilt, increasing its gross tonnage to 180 tons. The vessel was subsequently owned by Petrie, D.W. Chipman, and L.S. Raesser of Milwaukee, and it operated on the Chicago-Grand Haven route alongside the steamer Granite State.
Over the years, the ownership of the steambarge changed hands multiple times, with various owners including Chipman, Raesser, L.S. Larson, Bailey’s Harbor, and W.S. Johnson. In 1893, it was owned by Robert A. Shailer and C.R. Schiglau. In 1900, Robert Shailer became the sole owner, and in 1901, ownership transferred to the Standard Contracting Company of Cleveland, Ohio, which converted the vessel into a sandsucker.
Tragically, on May 31, 1905, the George T. Burroughs sank in a collision near Trautz’s dock in the St. Clair Flats, located in the St. Clair River. The collision occurred with the steamer C.F. Bielman. The steambarge was carrying a cargo of gravel at the time of the accident. There were no reported casualties in the incident.
Following the sinking, the engine and machinery of the George T. Burroughs were removed. The hull was later dynamited as a hazard. The official documents for the vessel were surrendered on June 22, 1905, indicating the loss of the ship.
It is worth mentioning that the steambarge had a previous incident in its history. In July 1881, prior to the rebuild, the vessel caught fire and burned to the water’s edge while about 20 miles from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The crew of 11 was saved by the tug A.B. Ward.
Overall, the George T. Burroughs had a varied ownership history and experienced both fire and collision incidents during its lifetime before ultimately sinking in 1905.
