Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: City of Mt. Clemens
- Type: Steam-driven cargo/freight barge
- Year Built: 1932
- Builder: Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Unknown; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: St. Clair River, at Detroit
- Official Number: 231734
- Original Owners: Captain J. S. McQueen
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact wooden steam barge or freight steamer tailored for the tight waterways of the Detroit–St. Clair waterway system—used for carrying general cargo between ports.
Description
Although exact specs are lacking, the City of Mt. Clemens was small and manoeuvrable, designed for tow-lines and light cargo. By 1908, it operated under Captain J. S. McQueen—likely a Canadian owner/operator based in Amherstburg, Ontario, with routes servicing both Canadian and American ports.
History
The vessel served the upper Great Lakes freight corridor, weaving between the River’s cross-border traffic. On a foggy evening of 21 November 1908, visibility in the St. Clair River deteriorated severely. Navigating warily, the tug/barge combination was hit broadside by the steamer James B. Neilson. The Mt. Clemens rapidly took on water and sank in the channel. Crew members were rescued by the Neilson and brought ashore—fortunate, as no lives were lost. Given the cost and the barge’s condition, she was abandoned and deemed a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- 21 November 1908: The City of Mt. Clemens was struck by the steamer James B. Neilson in heavy fog, leading to her sinking in the St. Clair River. No casualties were reported.
Final Disposition
The City of Mt. Clemens sank in the channel and was left where she settled. No recovery or salvage efforts are documented, likely due to the small size of the vessel and the heavy channel traffic.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal wreck survey or dive team has reported locating the wreck. It remains submerged in undisclosed waters of the St. Clair River, possibly partially buried in the channel bed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”city-of-mt-clemens-us-231734″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The City of Mt. Clemens met her fate in dense fog on 21 November 1908, when struck by the larger James B. Neilson in the St. Clair River. Though no one was injured, the collision marked the end for the small steam freighter. Her wreck, unrecovered and uncharted, remains a little-known footnote in the maritime history of the Detroit–St. Clair waterway. Despite her modest profile, she stands as a reminder of navigational challenges and the risks small steamers faced amid commercial traffic.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →