Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Francis Hinton
- Type: Steambarge
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: Hanson & Scove
- Dimensions: 152.2 ft (46.3 m); Beam: 30.90 ft; Depth of hold: ~10.8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 417.34 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 4.6 m / 15 ft
- Location: Maritime Bay, ~2 miles NE of Manitowoc River mouth
- Official Number: 120754
- Original Owners: Horatio Truman and George Cooper, multiple owners thereafter
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Francis Hinton was a steambarge designed for the transportation of lumber, particularly during the lumber boom era in the late 19th century.
Description
Built in 1889, the Francis Hinton was a significant vessel in the Lake Michigan lumber trade, capable of carrying approximately 550,000 board feet of lumber. It was powered by a single-steam screw propulsion system with a 385 hp compound engine manufactured by Manistee Iron Works.
History
The Francis Hinton operated primarily in the lumber trade, changing ownership several times throughout its service life. It was sold in 1891, 1897, 1899, and 1902, with a tonnage reduction noted in 1904. The vessel was valued at around $35,000 in 1890.
Significant Incidents
- Date: November 16, 1909
- Route: From Manistique to Chicago with a full load of lumber
- Incident Details: Took on water, extinguished boiler fire, became immobilized. Crew attempted to reach Two Rivers Harbor but seas worsened. Anchors cut; vessel drifted ashore in Maritime Bay (~1.9 miles NE of Manitowoc River). Captain and 11 crew abandoned ship using a yawl and reached shore safely. The next day, Two Rivers Life-Saving Station and crew stripped equipment and gear from wreck.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Francis Hinton was rediscovered by sport divers in 1987 after being submerged for over 75 years. It is now marked with a seasonal buoy by the Wisconsin Historical Society and is part of Maritime Trails, serving as a diving attraction.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of 2025, the wreck is reported to have an intact bilge region, with visible engine work, boiler, and an 8’9.5″ four-blade propeller. However, it has been heavily deteriorated over time due to ice and wave action, with low visibility conditions (<10 ft).
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”francis-hinton-us-120754″ title=”References & Links”]
The Francis Hinton exemplifies the core of late-19th-century lumber transport on Lake Michigan—powered by steam, built for efficiency and cargo capacity, and eventually succumbing to the same harsh conditions it battled. As the last vessel constructed by local shipbuilders Hanson & Scove, its remains serve as a tangible historic record of the region’s industrial maritime era.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
(Steambarge, Built 1889 – Wrecked 1909)
Vessel Specifications
- Built: 1889 by Hanson & Scove in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for Horatio Truman and George Cooper
- Length: 152.2 ft; Beam: 30.90 ft; Draft: ~10.8 ft; Gross Tonnage: 417.34 GRT
- Cargo Capacity: ~550,000 board feet of lumber
- Propulsion: Single-steam screw; 385 hp compound engine by Manistee Iron Works
- Registry Number: 120754; Inland Lloyd’s rating A1; valued at ~$35,000 in 1890 (Wikipedia)
Service History
- Operated as a steambarge in the Lake Michigan lumber trade, hauling Norway pine and timber—common practice during the lumber boom era (1870–1900) (wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Changed ownership multiple times: sold in 1891, 1897, 1899, and 1902, with a tonnage reduction in 1904 (Wikipedia)
Final Voyage & Wreck Incident
- Date: November 16, 1909
- Route: From Manistique to Chicago with a full load of lumber
- Incident Details:
- Took on water, extinguished boiler fire, became immobilized
- Crew attempted to reach Two Rivers Harbor but seas worsened
- Anchors cut; vessel drifted ashore in Maritime Bay (~1.9 miles NE of Manitowoc River)
- Captain and 11 crew abandoned ship using a yawl and reached shore safely
- The next day, Two Rivers Life-Saving Station and crew stripped equipment and gear from wreck (Wikipedia)
Wreck Site Details (as of rediscovery in 1987)
- Location: Coastal Maritime Bay, ~15 ft (4.6 m) water depth ~2 miles NE of Manitowoc River mouth
- Condition: Bilge region intact, with visible engine work, boiler, and 8′9.5″ four-blade propeller
- Environmental Impact: Damaged over time by ice and wave action; visibility low (<10 ft)
- Site Status: Marked with seasonal buoy by Wisconsin Historical Society; part of Maritime Trails & diving attraction
- Rediscovered by sport divers in 1987 after more than 75 years submerged (Wikipedia, Manitowoc County Historical Society)
Significance & Documentation
- Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 16, 1996, as a representative site of late-19th-century steambarge construction and lumber trade operations (Wikipedia)
- As one of the final wooden barge-types built in Manitowoc, it demonstrates the technological transition in Great Lakes shipping and industrial maritime history (Maritime Studies)
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Francis Hinton |
| Built | 1889 in Manitowoc by Hanson & Scove |
| Specs | 152.2 ft × 30.9 ft × ~10.8 ft; 417 GRT |
| Incident Date | 16 Nov 1909 |
| Crew | 12 (all survived) |
| Final Location | Maritime Bay, ~2 mi NE of Manitowoc River, ~15 ft depth |
| Condition (2025) | Bilge, boiler, engine, and propeller visible; heavily deteriorated |
| Significance | Listed in the National Register; prominent example of lumber steambarge |
The Francis Hinton exemplifies the core of late-19th-century lumber transport on Lake Michigan—powered by steam, built for efficiency and cargo capacity, and eventually succumbing to the same harsh conditions it battled. As the last vessel constructed by local shipbuilders Hanson & Scove, its remains serve as a tangible historic record of the region’s industrial maritime era.
francis-hinton-us-120754 1909-11-16 01:25:00