George Stauber – St. Lawrence River Steamer Shipwreck (1901)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: George Stauber
• Type: Passenger Steamer
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length < 200 ft (< 61 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 18 m / 60 ft
• Location: St. Clair River, near Fort Gratiot, Michigan/Ontario border

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

• Use: Passenger steamer, carrying passengers rather than freight (possibly also light cargo), running between Port Huron, Ontario, and U.S. docks in Michigan region (Genealogy Trails)

Description

• While detailed yard build records remain absent in the immediate summary, she is classified alongside other small river steamers of the era—likely under 200 ft length, shallow draft, twin decks to serve passenger routes across the St. Clair River. Passenger count and tonnage are not specified in summary sources.

History

• Operated through the St. Clair River traffic network, likely servicing cross-border passengers in early steam transport era. The vessel collided with the whaleback steamer Alexander McDougall on the evening of 21 August 1901, through a misunderstanding of passing signals. The McDougall struck her sharply and continued on without rendering immediate assistance (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Significant Incidents

• Collision with the whaleback steamer Alexander McDougall on 21 August 1901.

Final Disposition

• Impact caused the George Stauber to founder in approximately 60 ft (about 18 m) of water. She sank within minutes, but no lives were lost. All passengers and crew were rescued—the steambarge Ida (or IDA) came alongside to recover survivors after the McDougall did not stop immediately (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
• Estimated financial loss: approximately US $2,000. The Alexander McDougall sustained no damage. Criticism was later lodged that her captain, W. H. Kilby, failed to assist properly (Genealogy Trails).

Current Condition & Accessibility

• There is no record of the wreck being located or surveyed by divers, sonar, or archaeological teams. The vessel sank in moderate depth near a major navigation channel, but no documented dives or mapping are recorded.

Resources & Links

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The George Stauber underwent a fatal collision with the whaleback Alexander McDougall on 21 August 1901, in the St. Clair River. The passenger steamer sank rapidly after being struck; however, swift recovery actions by the steambarge Ida ensured that all passengers and crew survived. The Alexander McDougall was unscathed physically, but her crew faced informal charges for failing to aid survivors. The wreck remains undocumented and unlocated archaeologically. Further archival research could enrich the vessel’s profile with more precise and personal data.