Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: May Queen
- Type: Steam Tug Barge
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: Rand Shipyard, Manitowoc, WI
- Dimensions: 210 ft × 29 ft × 13 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~507 GT
- Location: Oswego Harbor, New York
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steam Tug Barge, originally a side-wheel steamer converted from the barge Manitowoc.
Description
The May Queen was built in 1868 and initially served as a side-wheel steamer. After a fire in 1874, it was stripped to its hull and repurposed as a wooden barge. It operated as a docked steam tug barge at Oswego, likely for barge handling and harbor duties.
History
After its construction, the May Queen underwent a significant conversion following a fire in 1874, which led to the removal of its engine. The vessel continued to serve in a different capacity until its scuttling in June 1876.
Significant Incidents
- June 16, 1876: A fire broke out while the tug was moored at Oswego. Local authorities scuttled the vessel to extinguish the flames and protect nearby infrastructure. There were no reports of casualties or dock damage.
Final Disposition
The May Queen was scuttled in Oswego Harbor, likely settling on a mud bottom. The scuttling was a common procedure to eliminate fire hazards, and the valuable engine had already been salvaged in 1874, reducing the incentive for hull recovery.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the May Queen remains uncertain, as it was scuttled and may have decayed or been removed since the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”may-queen-1868″ title=”References & Links”]
The May Queen’s story reflects the practices of the era, including the reuse of hulls and the management of fire hazards in harbor operations. This case provides valuable insights into the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
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.
Steam Tug Barge, Scuttled 1876
Identification & Vessel Overview
- Name: May Queen (formerly barge converted from Manitowoc)
- Original Build: 1868, Rand Shipyard, Manitowoc, WI—side-wheel steamer, 210 ft × 29 ft × 13 ft, ~507 GT
- Conversion: After an earlier fire in 1874, stripped to hull and repurposed as a wooden barge; the engine transferred to a new steamer, Chicago
- Final Role: Operated as a docked steam tug barge at Oswego, likely used for barge handling and harbor duties
Incident Details – June 1876, Oswego Harbor
- Source: Cleveland Herald, June 16, 1876, citing the Oswego Palladium: “the tug MAY QUEEN was burned and scuttled at that port Monday evening.”
- Event Summary:
- A fire broke out aboard while the tug was moored at Oswego
- Local authorities scuttled the vessel—likely by flooding—to extinguish flames and protect nearby infrastructure and vessels
- No accompanying reports of casualties or dock damage, suggesting crew may have been ashore or evacuated
Final Disposition & Aftermath
- Disposition: Scuttled in the harbor; the hull likely settled on a mud bottom; subsequent removal or natural decay probable
- Relief to Harbor: Scuttling was a typical procedure to safely eliminate fire hazard
- Engine Salvage: The valuable engine had been removed in 1874—suggesting little incentive to salvage the hull post-scuttling
Research Gaps & Recommendations
- Newspaper Archives
- Consult Oswego Palladium and Oswego Daily Times mid-June 1876 issues for full incident narrative, crew commentary, and dockside impact assessment
- Oswego Harbor Commission Records
- Inspect marine logs for scuttling approvals, reef clearance, or disposal authorizations
- Lloyd’s or U.S. Customs Register
- Confirm official vessel registry ending date and barge reclassification
- Underwater Survey
- Conduct a shallow sonar survey at the original docking site—hull remnants may be buried but still detectable
Contextual Significance
- The May Queen story illustrates practices of the era: reusing hulls while salvaging machinery, and scuttling burned hulks at dock to prevent harbor fires
- It contributes to our understanding of small harbor barge/tug operations and risk management in mid‑19th-century Great Lakes ports
Conclusion
The May Queen episode—her fire and swift scuttling at Oswego harbor in June 1876—is emblematic of industrial disposal practices and the lifecycle of wooden steam vessel remains. While modest in scale, this case offers insight into harbor operations and public safety responses of the era.
Would you like help retrieving the full Oswego Palladium article, reviewing harbor authority permission logs, or planning a diver or sonar survey to locate residual hull remains?
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