Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Messenger
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer (later steam barge)
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 136.2 ft (41.5 m); Beam 29.2 ft (8.9 m); Depth of hold 9.4 ft (2.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 288.58 tons; Net Tonnage: 224.09 tons
- Location: Rogers City, Michigan
- Official Number: 16654
- Original Owners: Various owners including E.M. Peck, Nathaniel Engelmann, and others
- Number of Masts: 2 (later rebuilt to 1)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steamer (later steam barge) with two decks. Originally built for mixed cargo and passenger trade on the Great Lakes, later rebuilt and converted to a cargo barge primarily hauling lumber and forest products.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 2 (later rebuilt to 1)
- Propulsion: Screw
- Engine Type: Horizontal Crosshead steam engine
- Engine Builder: Cuyahoga Steam Boiler Works, Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions (Original):
- Length: 142 ft (43.3 m)
- Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m)
- Depth: 9.2 ft (2.8 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 444.57 tons
- Net Tonnage: 341.62 tons
- Dimensions (Post-1888 Rebuild):
- Length: 136.2 ft (41.5 m)
- Beam: 29.2 ft (8.9 m)
- Depth: 9.4 ft (2.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 288.58 tons
- Net Tonnage: 224.09 tons
History
- 1866: Launched and enrolled at Cleveland; initial owner E.M. Peck. Aground that October on Ballast Island Reef.
- 1867–1872: Owned and operated by various interests, including Nathaniel Engelmann (Milwaukee) and Michigan Central Railway for Sheboygan–Pentwater route.
- 1873: Trapped in ice off Muskegon for 54 days during severe winter conditions.
- 1875–1880: Operated by John H. Graham and later Graham & Morton Transportation Co. in Michigan.
- 1883–1888: Ran Northern Michigan and Lake Michigan ports under Charles R. Smith and others.
- 1888: Rebuilt into a single-deck steam barge to better suit timber trade needs; operated by Margaret Zengerle, then John Stevenson, Detroit.
Significant Incidents
- Fire Incident: On November 11, 1890, Messenger caught fire while moored at Rogers City, Michigan. The vessel was cut loose to prevent damage to harbor facilities and sank in Lake Huron.
Final Disposition
On November 11, 1890, Messenger caught fire while moored at Rogers City, Michigan. Rather than risk further damage to the harbor facilities, the vessel was cut loose and allowed to drift into Lake Huron, where she burned to the waterline and sank. She was a total loss, with her cargo of cedar logs contributing to the intensity of the fire.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern recovery or identification of the wreck has been reported.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”messenger-us-16654″ title=”References & Links”]
The Messenger was a versatile Great Lakes steam propeller, evolving from a passenger/freight vessel to a purpose-built lumber barge. Her service across major Lake Michigan and Huron routes highlights her value during the lumber boom. Her loss at Rogers City marked the end of nearly 25 years of service.
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: Messenger
- Official Number: 16654
- Year Built: 1866
- Built At: Cleveland, Ohio
- Final Location: Rogers City, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Date Lost: 11 November 1890
- Cause of Loss: Fire; drifted into lake and sank
- Final Cargo: Cedar logs
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steamer (later steam barge) with two decks. Originally built for mixed cargo and passenger trade on the Great Lakes, later rebuilt and converted to a cargo barge primarily hauling lumber and forest products.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 2 (later rebuilt to 1)
- Propulsion: Screw
- Engine Type: Horizontal Crosshead steam engine
- Engine Builder: Cuyahoga Steam Boiler Works, Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions (Original):
- Length: 142 ft (43.3 m)
- Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m)
- Depth: 9.2 ft (2.8 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 444.57 tons
- Net Tonnage: 341.62 tons
- Dimensions (Post-1888 Rebuild):
- Length: 136.2 ft (41.5 m)
- Beam: 29.2 ft (8.9 m)
- Depth: 9.4 ft (2.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 288.58 tons
- Net Tonnage: 224.09 tons
History
- 1866: Launched and enrolled at Cleveland; initial owner E.M. Peck. Aground that October on Ballast Island Reef.
- 1867–1872: Owned and operated by various interests, including Nathaniel Engelmann (Milwaukee) and Michigan Central Railway for Sheboygan–Pentwater route.
- 1873: Trapped in ice off Muskegon for 54 days during severe winter conditions.
- 1875–1880: Operated by John H. Graham and later Graham & Morton Transportation Co. in Michigan.
- 1883–1888: Ran Northern Michigan and Lake Michigan ports under Charles R. Smith and others.
- 1888: Rebuilt into a single-deck steam barge to better suit timber trade needs; operated by Margaret Zengerle, then John Stevenson, Detroit.
Final Disposition
On November 11, 1890, Messenger caught fire while moored at Rogers City, Michigan. Rather than risk further damage to the harbor facilities, the vessel was cut loose and allowed to drift into Lake Huron, where she burned to the waterline and sank. She was a total loss, with her cargo of cedar logs contributing to the intensity of the fire.
Located By & Date Found
No modern recovery or identification of the wreck has been reported.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Donald V. Baut
- Edward J. Dowling Collection (University of Detroit Mercy)
- Great Lakes Register
- Great Lakes Ships – BGSU
- MaritimeHistoryOfTheGreatLakes.ca
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The Messenger was a versatile Great Lakes steam propeller, evolving from a passenger/freight vessel to a purpose-built lumber barge. Her service across major Lake Michigan and Huron routes highlights her value during the lumber boom. Her loss at Rogers City marked the end of nearly 25 years of service.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
propeller, steam barge, Great Lakes freighter, Lake Huron wreck, Rogers City, cedar logs, crosshead engine, 19th-century shipping, wooden hull, fire loss.
messenger-us-16654 1890-11-11 13:00:00