Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: G. P. Kingsbury
- Type: Wood-bodied tow-schooner or steamer
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Not found in online registers—further research needed
- Registered Tonnage: Not found in online registers—further research needed
- Location: Off Michigan waters
- Official Number: Not found in online registers—further research needed
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Primarily employed in towing scows—unpowered flat-bottom barges—along the lake. While the propulsion system remains unclear, the reported engine-room fire suggests she may have been a steam-powered tow vessel. Typical of her era and function, her construction would have combined utilitarian design with reinforced towing gear and a pilothouse for navigation.
Description
The G. P. Kingsbury typifies 19th-century tow-schooners and steam tugs operating on Lake Michigan. Although the vessel’s technical and registry details are as yet uncatalogued, the circumstances of its burning under the pilothouse and subsequent scuttling off Michigan in October 1891 are clear indicators of an engine-room–origin fire. This case presents opportunities for both archival research and underwater archaeological survey, likely revealing remnants of machinery or pilothouse structure in a near-shore scuttling site.
History
On October 19, 1891, a fire erupted under the pilothouse while the G. P. Kingsbury was towing a scow in Lake Michigan. The vessel sustained severe damage and was ultimately scuttled (deliberately sunk) off Michigan waters. No crew casualties are documented, and the name of any lost scow or cargo remains unknown. The reported cause of the fire likely began in the machinery or stokehold area, which is common in poorly ventilated tug/pilot spaces.
Significant Incidents
- Incident: Fire erupted under the pilothouse while towing a scow in Lake Michigan.
- Outcome: Sustained severe damage and was ultimately scuttled (deliberately sunk) off Michigan waters.
- Losses: No crew casualties are documented—name of any lost scow or cargo remains unknown.
- Reported Cause: Fire likely began in machinery or stokehold area, common in poorly ventilated tug/pilot spaces.
Final Disposition
The G. P. Kingsbury was scuttled off Michigan waters following the fire incident. The exact location of the wreck remains uncertain, and further research is needed to locate the debris.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the condition of the wreck is unknown due to the lack of detailed surveys. Any scuttling operation may have been followed by salvage claims, and checking underwriter archives could provide more information. If the approximate location is known, a sonar survey may locate debris piles, including metal engine parts and pilothouse wreckage.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”g-p-kingsbury-1873″ title=”References & Links”]
Future research efforts should focus on archival resources, including U.S. Enrollment ledgers, marine insurance records, and contemporary newspaper coverage to gather more information about the G. P. Kingsbury and its operational history.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: G. P. Kingsbury
- Built: 1873 (exact shipyard as yet unidentified)
- Official Number / Dimensions: Not found in online registers—further research needed
- Type: Wood-bodied tow‑schooner or steamer—functioned in pushing or towing scows on Lake Michigan
Vessel Type & Description
Primarily employed in towing scows—unpowered flat-bottom barges—along the lake. While the propulsion system remains unclear, the reported engine-room fire suggests she may have been a steam-powered tow vessel. Typical of her era and function, her construction would have combined utilitarian design with reinforced towing gear and a pilothouse for navigation.
Final Voyage: October 19, 1891
- Incident: Fire erupted under the pilothouse while towing a scow in Lake Michigan
- Outcome: Sustained severe damage and was ultimately scuttled (deliberately sunk) off Michigan waters
- Losses: No crew casualties are documented—name of any lost scow or cargo remains unknown
- Reported Cause: Fire likely began in machinery or stokehold area, common in poorly ventilated tug/pilot spaces
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Registry & Technical Details
- Check U.S. Enrollment ledgers (1873) for official number, builder, dimensions
- Locate machinery specifications (steam engine type, boiler design) via enrollment or insurance files
- Operational History
- Examine marine insurance and tow/log records in Michigan ports pre-October 1891
- Search scow cargo contracts to determine what she was towing
- Contemporary Newspaper Coverage
- Regional papers (Detroit Free Press, Muskegon Chronicle, Chicago Tribune) likely covered mid-lake tow-vessel fires in late October 1891
- Check “Great Lakes Shipwreck Files” for summary citation (“07 PM R – Great Lakes Shipwreck Files”), which may reference a scan of an 1891 periodical
- Salvage & Site Documentation
- Any scuttling operation may have been followed by salvage claims—check underwriter archives
- If approximate location is known (“off Michigan”), sonar survey may locate debris pile (metal engine parts, pilothouse wreckage)
Archival Resources to Consult
- U.S. Enrollment Database via BGSU digital collections or National Archives
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes archival newspaper collections
- HCGL casualty/enrollment lists around 1891
- Local marine underwriter records (Detroit & Chicago)
- State historical societies along Lake Michigan shoreline (MI, IL, WI)
Conclusion
The G. P. Kingsbury typifies 19th-century tow-schooners and steam tugs operating on Lake Michigan. Although the vessel’s technical and registry details are as yet uncatalogued, the circumstances of its burning under the pilothouse and subsequent scuttling off Michigan in October 1891 are clear indicators of an engine-room–origin fire. This case presents opportunities for both archival research and underwater archaeological survey, likely revealing remnants of machinery or pilothouse structure in a near‑shore scuttling site.
Suggested Next Steps
- Request enrollment specs and hull data from 1873 registries
- Locate and examine the “07 PM R” Shipwreck Files entry
- Search October 1891 newspapers for fire/scuttling reports
- Plan an ROV‑survey of probable scuttling zone to identify debris markers