Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jennie Briscoe; later Herald
- Type: Wooden steam barge (later a propeller scow)
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: Campbell & Owen, Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 85 ft (25.9 m); Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m); Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 82.59 tons
- Location: Grosse Ile, Detroit River, Michigan; Port Stanley, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 75203
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Jennie Briscoe was a small, steam-powered wooden barge designed for river and lake transport of bulk cargo. As was common in the early 1870s, such vessels offered greater maneuverability than sail-powered scows and were often used in riverine systems like the Detroit River. Following its rebuild as the Herald, it was listed as a propeller scow—suggesting continued use in low-draft cargo operations.
Description
The Jennie Briscoe was a modest but typical example of early wooden steam barges on the Great Lakes. Her quick sinking in the Detroit River following a collision with Free State cost one life and highlighted the congestion of mid-19th-century river traffic. Salvaged and rebuilt as Herald, the vessel’s later stranding at Port Stanley closed her operational chapter. Though neither wreck has been located, both events are well-documented and demonstrate the risks faced by small lake steamers in the transitional era between wood and steel hulls.
History
- 1870, August 26: While navigating near Grosse Ile, Michigan, the Jennie Briscoe collided with the steam propeller Free State in the Detroit River and sank. One fatality occurred, and the vessel was declared a total loss. Capt. Francis Tufts was in command at the time.
- 1871: The wreck was salvaged and sold. It was rebuilt and renamed Herald, listed thereafter as a propeller vessel.
- 1877: Still carried on the U.S. registry under its new name and configuration.
- 1883: The Herald stranded at Port Stanley, Ontario (north shore of Lake Erie) and was wrecked permanently.
Significant Incidents
- Initial loss: Sank following a collision with Free State in 1870, with one life lost.
- Post-rebuild: Re-entered service as Herald, wrecked at Port Stanley in 1883.
- Fate: Declared total loss at both events; no known remains today.
Final Disposition
No known rediscovery or underwater survey of either wreck site. The 1870 sinking occurred in a busy, shallow section of the Detroit River, where salvage was likely extensive. The 1883 Port Stanley site was likely dismantled or eroded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
None currently noted at either Grosse Ile or Port Stanley locations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”herald-c-75203-jennie-briscoe” title=”References & Links”]
The Jennie Briscoe was a modest but typical example of early wooden steam barges on the Great Lakes. Her quick sinking in the Detroit River following a collision with Free State cost one life and highlighted the congestion of mid-19th-century river traffic. Salvaged and rebuilt as Herald, the vessel’s later stranding at Port Stanley closed her operational chapter. Though neither wreck has been located, both events are well-documented and demonstrate the risks faced by small lake steamers in the transitional era between wood and steel hulls.
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
- Name(s): Jennie Briscoe; later rebuilt and renamed Herald
- Official Number: 75203
- Year built: 1870
- Builder: Campbell & Owen, Detroit, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Wooden steam barge (later a propeller scow)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 85 ft (25.9 m)
- Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 82.59 tons
- Propulsion: Single screw (steam propeller)
- Final Locations:
- 1870 wreck: off Grosse Ile, Detroit River, Michigan
- 1883 wreck: Port Stanley, Ontario, Lake Erie
Vessel Type Description
The Jennie Briscoe was a small, steam-powered wooden barge designed for river and lake transport of bulk cargo. As was common in the early 1870s, such vessels offered greater maneuverability than sail-powered scows and were often used in riverine systems like the Detroit River. Following its rebuild as the Herald, it was listed as a propeller scow—suggesting continued use in low-draft cargo operations.
History
- 1870, August 26: While navigating near Grosse Ile, Michigan, the Jennie Briscoe collided with the steam propeller Free State in the Detroit River and sank. One fatality occurred, and the vessel was declared a total loss. Capt. Francis Tufts was in command at the time.
- 1871: The wreck was salvaged and sold. It was rebuilt and renamed Herald, listed thereafter as a propeller vessel.
- 1877: Still carried on the U.S. registry under its new name and configuration.
- 1883: The Herald stranded at Port Stanley, Ontario (north shore of Lake Erie) and was wrecked permanently.
Final Disposition
- Initial loss: Sank following a collision with Free State in 1870, with one life lost.
- Post-rebuild: Re-entered service as Herald, wrecked at Port Stanley in 1883.
- Fate: Declared total loss at both events; no known remains today.
Located By & Date Found
No known rediscovery or underwater survey of either wreck site. The 1870 sinking occurred in a busy, shallow section of the Detroit River, where salvage was likely extensive. The 1883 Port Stanley site was likely dismantled or eroded.
Notmars & Advisories
None currently noted at either Grosse Ile or Port Stanley locations.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Ships – BGSU Entry
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Michigan Shipwreck Register (Campbell & Owen yard references)
Conclusion
The Jennie Briscoe was a modest but typical example of early wooden steam barges on the Great Lakes. Her quick sinking in the Detroit River following a collision with Free State cost one life and highlighted the congestion of mid-19th-century river traffic. Salvaged and rebuilt as Herald, the vessel’s later stranding at Port Stanley closed her operational chapter. Though neither wreck has been located, both events are well-documented and demonstrate the risks faced by small lake steamers in the transitional era between wood and steel hulls.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Jennie Briscoe, Herald, Grosse Ile, Port Stanley, collision, steam barge, Free State, scow, Detroit River
- Categories: Wooden steam vessels, 19th-century maritime commerce, Great Lakes collisions, rebuilt vessels
- Glossary: scow, steam barge, propeller, stranded, rebuilt, registry