Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H. Moore (also listed as Hannah Moore)
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: Benjamin Hillier at Port Huron, Michigan
- Dimensions: 69 ft × 21 ft × 6 ft; 74 GRT / 71 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 74 GRT / 71 NRT
- Location: Port Huron, Lake St. Clair
- Official Number: 11807
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for towing and transporting goods in the Great Lakes region.
Description
The H. Moore was a wooden scow-schooner measuring 69 feet in length, 21 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth. It was built in 1868 by Benjamin Hillier in Port Huron, Michigan. The vessel had a registered tonnage of 74 gross tons and 71 net tons.
History
On July 7, 1891, the H. Moore was under tow by the tug D. N. Runnels while attempting to enter the Port Huron dry dock. During the maneuver, the towline parted unexpectedly, causing the H. Moore to drift uncontrolled downriver onto the ‘middle ground,’ approximately 200 feet from the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad dock channel. Multiple vessels subsequently struck and dismantled her while she lay adrift. Reports suggest that Captain Hemminger of Algonac may have intentionally destroyed the vessel using dynamite to clear the wreckage. The H. Moore was officially declared a total loss, with documentation surrendered in Port Huron on January 12, 1892, annotated ‘Wrecked, total loss.’
Significant Incidents
- July 7, 1891: The towline parted while under tow by the tug D. N. Runnels.
- The vessel drifted onto the middle ground and was struck by multiple vessels.
- Possible intentional destruction by dynamite to clear wreckage.
- Declared a total loss on January 12, 1892.
Final Disposition
The H. Moore was declared a total loss and its documentation was surrendered in Port Huron. The vessel likely remains at the site of the incident, but its remains may be minimal or nonexistent due to the clearing actions taken at the time.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located in the middle of the St. Clair River near the railroad dock entrance in Port Huron. Due to the nature of the incident and subsequent actions, the remains of the H. Moore are likely minimal or have been completely cleared.
Resources & Links
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The H. Moore serves as a historical example of the risks faced by wooden barges under tow in confined river channels during the late 19th century, as well as the methods of wreck removal that were employed prior to modern marine salvage techniques.
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