Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Joseph P. Farnan US 76691

Explore the wreck of the Joseph P. Farnan, a wooden steam barge that burned and sank in Lake Michigan in 1889, with all crew members rescued.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Joseph P. Farnan
  • Type: Propeller steam barge for bulk freight
  • Year Built: 1887
  • Builder: W. Radcliffe, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dimensions: 152 ft (46.33 m) length × 33 ft beam × 10 ft depth; 410 gross tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 410 gross tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 51.8 m / 170 ft
  • Location: Off South Haven, Michigan
  • Official Number: 76691
  • Original Owners: Capt. Loren G. Vosburgh, based in Cleveland

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden steam barge designed for transporting bulk freight, equipped with a compound steam engine.

Description

The Joseph P. Farnan was a wooden steam barge built in 1887, measuring 152 feet in length, 33 feet in beam, and 10 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 410 gross tons and was powered by a compound steam engine.

History

Constructed by W. Radcliffe in Cleveland, Ohio, the Joseph P. Farnan was owned and captained by Loren G. Vosburgh. The vessel was primarily used for bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

  • Final Incident: On July 20, 1889, while departing St. Joseph, Michigan, the vessel caught fire approximately 17 miles offshore. The fire originated in the engine room, rapidly disabling the pumps and spreading uncontrollably.
  • Rescue: The crew abandoned ship using makeshift rafts after their lifeboat was destroyed. All 12 aboard, including Capt. Vosburgh’s wife, survived, thanks to a timely rescue by the South Haven U.S. Life-Saving Service.

Final Disposition

The Joseph P. Farnan burned to the waterline and sank after drifting. The wreck lies at approximately 170 feet deep off South Haven, with the engine and boiler remaining intact, while the superstructure was fully consumed by fire.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Joseph P. Farnan is considered a significant underwater heritage site, with opportunities for marine archaeological surveys to document and preserve the remaining structure.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”joseph-p-farnan-us-76691″ title=”References & Links”]

The loss of the Joseph P. Farnan highlights the dangers of maritime operations in the late 19th century. The vessel’s wreck serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and the need for further research into its history and the circumstances surrounding its loss.

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.

(wooden steam barge, built 1887)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Joseph P. Farnan
  • Official Number: 76691
  • Built: 1887 by W. Radcliffe, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Type: Propeller steam barge for bulk freight
  • Dimensions: 152 ft length × 33 ft beam × 10 ft depth; 410 gross tons
  • Engine: Armed with a compound steam engine from the Winnifred
  • Owner & Master: Capt. Loren G. Vosburgh, based in Cleveland

Final Incident – July 20, 1889

  • Date & Voyage: Departed St. Joseph, Michigan on the morning of July 20, 1889, bound for Escanaba, Michigan; burning began around 2 p.m., approximately 17 miles offshore
  • Cargo & Conditions: Light (no cargo); fair weather initially, but seas running under northwest winds
  • Cause of Loss: Fire ignited in the engine room, rapidly disabled pumps, and spread catastrophically
  • Immediate Response: The crew abandoned ship on makeshift rafts made from hatch covers and fenders; lifeboat destroyed in blaze. All 12 aboard (including Capt. Vosburgh’s wife, Belle) survived
  • Rescue: South Haven U.S. Life-Saving Service monitored the stricken vessel; they commandeered the steamer Glenn to reach them, arriving at dusk to rescue all survivors

Outcome & Site Details

  • Recklessness of Fire: Ship burned to waterline and was left to drift before sinking
  • Casualties: None among the crew or passengers
  • Final Resting Place: Wreck lies at approx. 170 ft depth off South Haven; engine and boiler remain, superstructure fully consumed by fire
  • Insurance: Carried no insurance

Primary Sources

  • Michigan Shipwreck Research Association: Technical data, engine history, official loss description, and site depth
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (D-Series): Lists blazing incident details, rescue by Glenn, and preservation of survivors

Archival Gaps & Research Opportunities

  • Damage origin: No records specify if fire began in the engine, fuel tanks, or electrical system—shipyard or fire marshal logs could fill this void
  • First-hand accounts: Newspaper articles (e.g., Detroit Free Press, Escanaba Morning News, South Haven Tribune) from late July 1889 may offer eyewitness reports or technical descriptions
  • USLSS Logs: Reports from South Haven station personnel could provide operational insight into the rescue
  • Wreck Survey: Marine archaeological surveys (e.g., by NUMA and MSRA) likely have mapped and documented remaining structure; cross-referencing these logs could aid in artifact preservation

Conclusion

The Joseph P. Farnan burned catastrophically on July 20, 1889, nearly 17 miles offshore from St. Joseph. Thanks to the ingenuity of her drifting crew and a timely, well-organized rescue by the South Haven Life-Saving Service and the Glenn, all aboard were saved. The vessel sank in ~170 ft of water off South Haven. Today, her wreck—with intact engine and boiler—remains a significant underwater heritage site. The absence of insurance and comprehensive technical analysis indicates room for deeper archival and archaeological exploration.

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