Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

George W. Roby US 86031

Explore the submerged remains of the George W. Roby, a wood steam barge that met a fiery end in the Detroit River in 1906.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: George W. Roby
  • Type: Wood Steam Barge (Bulk Coal Barge)
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Builder: Frank E. Wheeler
  • Dimensions: 281 ft (85.6 m) X 41 ft; Depth of hold 20 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,843 GT / 1,470 NT
  • Location: Near Lime Kiln Crossing, Detroit River
  • Official Number: US 86031
  • Number of Masts: Unrigged

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wood Steam Barge (Bulk Coal Barge) — U.S. No. 86031

Description

Construction & Conversion

  • Built: 1889, West Bay City, Michigan by Frank E. Wheeler, originally as a self-propelled steamboat.
  • Specifications: Approximately 281 ft long × 41 ft beam × 20 ft depth, rated at 1,843 GT / 1,470 NT.
  • Conversion: Following fire damage in 1905, converted into an unrigged, towed coal barge and remained in this configuration until wreck.

History

Service History

First Fire Incident — September 1905

  • Location: Near Lime Kiln Crossing at Detroit River mouth.
  • Event: Cargo of soft coal spontaneously began burning Sept 19; blaze visible over 20 miles due to glowing embers.
  • Response: Fire extinguished, and the vessel was later repurposed as tow barge.

Second Burn & Final Sinking — November 14, 1906

  • Incident: Fire reignited near the same location off Lime Kiln Crossing.
  • Crew: All crew survived; no injuries noted.
  • Final Action: To stop the fire, a dynamite charge was fired into her bilges, causing her to sink. The hulk was subsequently abandoned; enrollment officially surrendered shortly afterward.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

  • No loss of life occurred in either disaster.
  • The vessel was considered a total loss and remains underwater near Lime Kiln Crossing—it is not marked as a navigational hazard today.
  • Hull and wreckage were likely salvaged through natural decay or debris removal operations.

Final Disposition

Aftermath

  • The vessel was considered a total loss and remains underwater near Lime Kiln Crossing—it is not marked as a navigational hazard today.
  • Hull and wreckage were likely salvaged through natural decay or debris removal operations.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the George W. Roby lies submerged and unrecorded on modern charts, representing an intriguing target for underwater archaeological documentation and regional maritime heritage study.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-w-roby-us-86031″ title=”References & Links”]

Conclusion

The George W. Roby experienced a dramatic two-fire sequence in 1905–1906 on the Detroit River. After an initial coal cargo fire and firefighting efforts in 1905, the barge reignited and, being unsalvageable again in 1906, was scuttled with explosives by her owner. The wreck now lies submerged and unrecorded on modern charts but represents an intriguing target for underwater archaeological documentation and regional maritime heritage study.

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.

Wood Steam Barge (Bulk Coal Barge) — U.S. No. 86031

Construction & Conversion

  • Built: 1889, West Bay City, Michigan by Frank E. Wheeler, originally as a self-propelled steamboat (wrecksite.eu).
  • Specifications: Approximately 281 ft long × 41 ft beam × 20 ft depth, rated at 1,843 GT / 1,470 NT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Conversion: Following fire damage in 1905, converted into an unrigged, towed coal barge and remained in this configuration until wreck.

First Fire Incident — September 1905

  • Location: Near Lime Kiln Crossing at Detroit River mouth.
  • Event: Cargo of soft coal spontaneously began burning Sept 19; blaze visible over 20 miles due to glowing embers (wrecksite.eu, marshcollection.org).
  • Response: Fire extinguished, and the vessel was later repurposed as tow barge.

Second Burn & Final Sinking — November 14, 1906

  • Incident: Fire reignited near the same location off Lime Kiln Crossing (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Crew: All crew survived; no injuries noted.
  • Final Action: To stop the fire, a dynamite charge was fired into her bilges, causing her to sink (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files). The hulk was subsequently abandoned; enrollment officially surrendered shortly afterward.

Aftermath

  • No loss of life occurred in either disaster.
  • The vessel was considered a total loss and remains underwater near Lime Kiln Crossing—it is not marked as a navigational hazard today.
  • Hull and wreckage were likely salvaged through natural decay or debris removal operations.

Research Opportunities

  • Archival Exploration
    • Search Detroit River newspapers (e.g., Detroit Free Press, Detroit Tribune) around Nov 1906 for eyewitness accounts and salvage reports.
    • Investigate U.S. Coast Guard or District 9 (Great Lakes) inspection or disposition records for scuttled vessels from 1906.
  • Field Survey
    • Conduct side-scan sonar mapping near Lime Kiln Crossing to locate potential hulk remains.
    • If feasible, follow up with ROV operations to assess structural condition.
  • Maritime Traffic Impact
    • Evaluate impact notices or temporary buoy re-routing issued during scuttling and burning incidents, which may still be archived in Coast Guard bulletins.

Conclusion

The George W. Roby experienced a dramatic two-fire sequence in 1905–1906 on the Detroit River. After an initial coal cargo fire and firefighting efforts in 1905, the barge reignited and, being unsalvageable again in 1906, was scuttled with explosives by her owner. The wreck now lies submerged and unrecorded on modern charts but represents an intriguing target for underwater archaeological documentation and regional maritime heritage study.

george-w-roby-us-86031 1906-11-14 16:56:00