Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Kittie M. Forbes
- Type: bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 209 ft (63.7 m); Beam 34.9 ft (10.6 m); Depth of hold 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 792 originally; 968.71 after 1884 rebuild; 742 post-1902 rebuild
- Depth at Wreck Site: 6.7 m / 22 ft
- Location: Lake St. Clair Flats, Ontario
- Official Number: 14413
- Original Owners: Various owners in Port Huron and Buffalo
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled bulk freighter, purpose-built for the iron ore and coal trade on the upper Great Lakes. Originally constructed with a single deck and later rebuilt for greater cargo capacity.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: Initially 1, later rebuilt to 2, then returned to 1
- Masts: 3
- Length: 209 ft (63.7 m)
- Beam: 34.9 ft (10.6 m)
- Depth: 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Gross Tonnage:
- 792 originally
- 968.71 after 1884 rebuild
- 742 post-1902 rebuild
- Net Tonnage:
- 775.3 after 1884
- 549 post-1902
History
- 1883: Launched May 5; enrolled at Port Huron on June 4. Entered coal and iron ore trade.
- 1884: Rebuilt to two decks; gross tonnage increased.
- 1885: Grounded at Outer Island in Lake Superior; release cost $17,000.
- 1886–1892: Transferred among owners in Port Huron and Buffalo.
- 1894: Two incidents — grounded on Sulphur Island Reef (no damage) and a fire in dry dock at Superior, WI.
- 1895: Collision with schooner GUIDO on Lake Michigan; significant hull and cabin damage.
- 1902 (May 21): Burned to the waterline on Lake St. Clair Flats; ran ashore on Canadian side. Machinery salvaged and installed in STEAMER CALEDONIA by 1908.
- 1905: Hull towed to Fort William, Ontario; converted to a lighter.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded at Outer Island in Lake Superior in 1885.
- Collision with schooner GUIDO in 1895.
- Fire in dry dock at Superior, WI in 1894.
- Burned to the waterline on Lake St. Clair Flats in 1902.
Final Disposition
Though never formally “wrecked,” the KITTIE M. FORBES ended her career after a fire in 1902 rendered the hull unserviceable. The hull was repurposed as a lighter in 1905 after being stripped of machinery.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not applicable — no known wreck, vessel was salvaged and repurposed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”kittie-m-forbes-us-14413″ title=”References & Links”]
The KITTIE M. FORBES exemplified the evolution of wooden freighters in the late 19th century Great Lakes trade. Her repeated modifications and incidents reflect the tough conditions and long working lives of bulk freighters. Though not a traditional “shipwreck,” her operational demise and conversion to a lighter mark the end of a vessel well-integrated in ore, coal, and freight services.
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): KITTIE M. FORBES
- Official Number: 14413
- Year Built: 1883
- Built at: West Bay City, Michigan
- Final Status: Converted to a lighter in 1905 after fire and hull salvage
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled bulk freighter, purpose-built for the iron ore and coal trade on the upper Great Lakes. Originally constructed with a single deck and later rebuilt for greater cargo capacity.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: Initially 1, later rebuilt to 2, then returned to 1
- Masts: 3
- Length: 209 ft (63.7 m)
- Beam: 34.9 ft (10.6 m)
- Depth: 22 ft (6.7 m)
- Gross Tonnage:
- 792 originally
- 968.71 after 1884 rebuild
- 742 post-1902 rebuild
- Net Tonnage:
- 775.3 after 1884
- 549 post-1902
Power
- Propulsion: Screw
- Engine: For-and-Aft Compound, 2-cylinder
- Dimensions: 27″ & 44″ x 42″ stroke
- Power: 500 hp @ 82 rpm
- Maker: S.F. Hodge & Co., Detroit, MI
- Boiler: Scotch type, 11’3″ x 12’6″ @ 100 psi
- Builder: McGregor Boiler Works, Detroit, MI
History
- 1883: Launched May 5; enrolled at Port Huron on June 4. Entered coal and iron ore trade.
- 1884: Rebuilt to two decks; gross tonnage increased.
- 1885: Grounded at Outer Island in Lake Superior; release cost $17,000.
- 1886–1892: Transferred among owners in Port Huron and Buffalo.
- 1894: Two incidents — grounded on Sulphur Island Reef (no damage) and a fire in dry dock at Superior, WI.
- 1895: Collision with schooner GUIDO on Lake Michigan; significant hull and cabin damage.
- 1902 (May 21): Burned to the waterline on Lake St. Clair Flats; ran ashore on Canadian side. Machinery salvaged and installed in STEAMER CALEDONIA by 1908.
- 1905: Hull towed to Fort William, Ontario; converted to a lighter.
Final Disposition
Though never formally “wrecked,” the KITTIE M. FORBES ended her career after a fire in 1902 rendered the hull unserviceable. The hull was repurposed as a lighter in 1905 after being stripped of machinery.
Located By & Date Found
Not applicable — no known wreck, vessel was salvaged and repurposed.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
- H.G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit
- Peter J. VanderLinden
Conclusion
The KITTIE M. FORBES exemplified the evolution of wooden freighters in the late 19th century Great Lakes trade. Her repeated modifications and incidents reflect the tough conditions and long working lives of bulk freighters. Though not a traditional “shipwreck,” her operational demise and conversion to a lighter mark the end of a vessel well-integrated in ore, coal, and freight services.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Wooden freighter, iron ore, coal trade, machinery salvage, Great Lakes fire loss, Thunder Bay grounding, Lake St. Clair, steam engine repurposing, lighter conversion.
kittie-m-forbes-us-14413 1905-07-14 12:16:00