Shotline Diving

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Great Lakes Research Archive

Shotline Wreck Record

H & G US 42376

Explore the mystery of the H & G, a wooden barge lost in 1879 under unknown circumstances, likely during a winter storm.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: H. AND G.
  • Type: Wooden Barge (Unpowered Cargo Carrier)
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: P. Hitchcock, Bangor, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 132 ft (40.2 m) X 28 ft (8.5 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3.0 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 309 tons
  • Location: Unknown
  • Official Number: 42376
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: None

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The H. AND G. was a wooden barge, a vessel designed for hauling bulk cargo, typically towed by steam-powered tugs or freighters.

Key Features of Great Lakes Barges:

  • Designed for carrying bulk materials such as coal, lumber, or grain
  • Lacked independent propulsion and relied on steam tugs
  • Commonly used in the late 19th century for cost-effective shipping

At 132 feet long and 309 tons, the H. AND G. was a mid-sized barge part of a lumber or coal transport operation. The H. AND G. operated for nine years, serving as a Great Lakes cargo barge before being lost in 1879.

Description

The H. AND G. was built in Bangor, Michigan, by P. Hitchcock in 1870. It operated as a cargo barge, towed by steamers, until its loss on December 7, 1879.

History

  • 1870: Built in Bangor, Michigan, by P. Hitchcock.
  • Unknown: operated as a cargo barge, towed by steamers.
  • 1879, December 7: Lost on the Great Lakes (Details unknown).

Significant Incidents

  • No confirmed details on location, cargo, cause of loss, or possible survivors.
  • Given the season (December) and barge type, it may have foundered in a winter storm while under tow.
  • The fate of its crew (if any) is unknown.

Final Disposition

There are no confirmed reports of the H. AND G.‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented. Due to its wooden construction and uncertain loss location, the wreck may be buried, broken apart, or unidentified.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-g-us-42376″ title=”References & Links”]

The H. AND G. was a mid-sized cargo barge, used for hauling lumber or coal on the Great Lakes, before it disappeared under unknown circumstances in 1879. Its loss remains undocumented, but it was most likely the victim of a winter storm while under tow, a common cause of barge losses in the late 19th century.

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.

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: H. AND G. (Also recorded as H & E)
  • Former Names: None reported
  • Official Number: 42376
  • Date Built and Launched: 1870
  • Builder: P. Hitchcock, Bangor, Michigan
  • Homeport: Unknown
  • Final Owner: Unknown
  • Vessel Type: Wooden Barge (Unpowered Cargo Carrier)
  • Hull Materials: Wood
  • Power: None (Towed by Steam Tugs or Freighters)
  • Measurements:
  • Length: 132 ft (40.2 m)
  • Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)
  • Depth: 10 ft (3.0 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 309 tons
  • Primary Cargo: Unknown (lumber, coal, or general freight)
  • Final Route: Unknown

Vessel Type

The H. AND G. was a wooden barge, a vessel designed for hauling bulk cargo, typically towed by steam-powered tugs or freighters.

Key Features of Great Lakes Barges:

  • Designed for carrying bulk materials such as coal, lumber, or grain
  • Lacked independent propulsion and relied on steam tugs
  • Commonly used in the late 19th century for cost-effective shipping

At 132 feet long and 309 tons, the H. AND G. was a mid-sized barge part of a lumber or coal transport operation. The H. AND G. operated for nine years, serving as a Great Lakes cargo barge before being lost in 1879.

  • 1870: Built in Bangor, Michigan, by P. Hitchcock.
  • Unknown: operated as a cargo barge, towed by steamers.
  • 1879, December 7: Lost on the Great Lakes (Details unknown).

The Disaster

  • No confirmed details on location, cargo, cause of loss, or possible survivors.
  • Given the season (December) and barge type, it may have foundered in a winter storm while under tow.
  • The fate of its crew (if any) is unknown.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the H. AND G.‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented.

Due to its wooden construction and uncertain loss location, the wreck may be buried, broken apart, or unidentified.

Notmars & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The H. AND G. was a mid-sized cargo barge, used for hauling lumber or coal on the Great Lakes, before it disappeared under unknown circumstances in 1879. Its loss remains undocumented, but it was most the victim of a winter storm while under tow, a common cause of barge losses in the late 19th century.

The H. AND G. was a wooden barge, a vessel designed for hauling bulk cargo, typically towed by steam-powered tugs or freighters. h-g-us-42376 1879-12-07 07:56:00