Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Mary Birckhead US 17618

Explore the wreck of the Mary Birckhead, a two-masted schooner-barge that sank in the Detroit River in 1891 after a collision. A significant site for maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Mary Birckhead
  • Type: Two-masted schooner-barge
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: Jackson or Oak Harbor, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lime-Kiln Crossing, Detroit River, Michigan
  • Official Number: US 17618
  • Original Owners: P. H. Birckhead and partners, Toledo, Ohio; later Peter H. Fick, Saginaw, Michigan (1890)
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Mary Birckhead was a two-masted schooner-barge, designed primarily for the transportation of bulk cargo, particularly coal.

Description

Constructed in 1867, the Mary Birckhead featured a wooden hull and was built to withstand the rigors of Great Lakes navigation. It was primarily used for cargo transportation, making several trips across the Great Lakes during its service life.

History

Service Life (1867–1891): The Mary Birckhead was constructed in 1867 as a sturdy wooden schooner-barge designed for bulk cargo transport. Over its career, it changed hands several times, carrying goods across the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage:

  • Cargo: Coal, bound for Port Huron, Michigan.
  • Tow Vessel: Tug Annie Moiles
  • Incident: While navigating the Detroit River, the Mary Birckhead collided with the steamer Roman near Lime-Kiln Crossing. The collision caused catastrophic damage, and the schooner-barge sank rapidly.

Outcome:

  • The vessel was declared a total loss.
  • Fortunately, no crew members perished in the incident.

Aftermath:

  • The wreck posed a major navigational hazard, partially obstructing the channel.
  • Resolution: Authorities used dynamite to blow apart the remnants of the wreck, clearing the channel and ensuring safe passage for other vessels.

Significant Incidents

  • Cause of Loss: Collision with the steamer Roman
  • Fate of Vessel: Dynamited and removed from the channel

Final Disposition

The Mary Birckhead was declared a total loss following its collision and subsequent sinking. The wreck was removed from the channel to ensure navigational safety.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The site of the Mary Birckhead is no longer visible as the wreck was dynamited and cleared from the channel. However, its story remains a significant part of maritime history in the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-birckhead-us-17618″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The tragic loss of the Mary Birckhead serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by vessels navigating the busy waterways of the Great Lakes. It highlights the importance of safety protocols in maritime navigation.

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

  • Construction Year: 1867
  • Configuration: Two-masted schooner-barge
  • Location: Lime-Kiln Crossing, Detroit River, Michigan
  • Incident Date: October 9, 1891
  • Name: Mary Birckhead
  • Construction:
  • Builder: Jackson or Oak Harbor, Ohio
  • Material: Wooden hull
  • Original Owner: P. H. Birckhead and partners, Toledo, Ohio
  • Later Ownership: Peter H. Fick, Saginaw, Michigan (1890)
  • Primary Use: Cargo transportation (coal)

HISTORY

Service Life (1867–1891):

The Mary Birckhead was constructed in 1867 as a sturdy wooden schooner-barge designed for bulk cargo transport. Over its career, it changed hands several times, carrying goods across the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage:

  • Cargo: Coal, bound for Port Huron, Michigan.
  • Tow Vessel: Tug Annie Moiles
  • Incident:
  • While navigating the Detroit River, the Mary Birckhead collided with the steamer Roman near Lime-Kiln Crossing.
  • The collision caused catastrophic damage, and the schooner-barge sank rapidly.

Outcome:

  • • The vessel was declared a total loss.
  • • Fortunately, no crew members perished in the incident.

Aftermath:

  • The wreck posed a major navigational hazard, partially obstructing the channel.
  • Resolution: Authorities used dynamite to blow apart the remnants of the wreck, clearing the channel and ensuring safe passage for other vessels.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Cause of Loss: Collision with the steamer Roman
  • Fate of Vessel: Dynamited and removed from the channel

SIGNIFICANCE

The Mary Birckhead’s tragic loss underscores the dangers of navigating narrow and crowded waterways like the Detroit River, particularly during an era of less stringent navigational regulations. The incident highlights the critical need for safety protocols in busy shipping channels and serves as a cautionary tale for maritime history.

NOTES

  • Navigational Hazard: The wreck’s location at Lime-Kiln Crossing highlights the challenges of managing busy shipping lanes during the 19th century.
  • Historical Importance: As part of the Great Lakes’ rich maritime history, the story of the Mary Birckhead contributes to understanding the risks faced by early sailors and the evolving nature of shipping safety.

REFERENCES & LINKS

In the annals of maritime history, stories of shipwrecks and collisions stand as reminders of the perils faced by sailors. One such tale is that of the Mary Birckhead, a schooner-barge that met its untimely end in the treacherous waters of the Detroit River on October 9, 1891. With a collision that would seal its fate, the Mary Birckhead would become a haunting reminder of the dangers faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes. mary-birckhead-u17618 1891-03-14 07:48:00