Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie Sutton
- Type: Wooden-hulled tug (towboat)
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: Cooper of Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: Length 54.8 ft (16.7 m); Beam 9.4 ft (2.9 m); Depth of hold 3.9 ft (1.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 21 tons
- Location: Near Spectacle Reef, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron
- Original Owners: A. English, William F. Botsford
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled tug (towboat), originally used as a pleasure boat and later repurposed for passenger service and light towing. A small, versatile utility vessel.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Length: 16.7 metres / 54.8 feet
- Beam: 2.9 metres / 9.4 feet
- Depth: 1.2 metres / 3.9 feet
- Tonnage (Gross): 21 tons
Built by Cooper of Buffalo, NY, she was suited for small riverine and nearshore operations.
History
- 1870: Constructed at Buffalo, NY.
- 1871, April 9: Owned by A. English of East Saginaw, Michigan. Initially used as a pleasure boat.
- 1873: Served as a passenger vessel operating between Grand Haven and Fruitport, Michigan.
- 1875: Used as a ferry on the Black River; associated with Leighton and Dunford yard.
- 1875, July 1: Acquired by William F. Botsford of Port Huron, Michigan.
- 1877, October 16: While towing a lighter scow and bound from Cheboygan to Drummond Island, Michigan, she was caught in a squall and wrecked near Spectacle Reef. Both vessels sank. The crew and passengers abandoned ship to a nearby pier and were rescued four days later by the tug Bennett.
- 1878, June 29: Her documentation was officially surrendered, listed as a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- 1877, October 16: Wrecked in a squall while towing near Spectacle Reef.
Final Disposition
- Cause: Wrecked in a squall while towing near Spectacle Reef.
- Final Status: Sank along with her tow; crew survived.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed rediscovery or archaeological documentation noted. Likely remains are lost or fragmented in the reef zone.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-sutton-1870″ title=”References & Links”]
The Minnie Sutton was a typical example of a small multipurpose tug operating in the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. Her loss highlights the vulnerability of light craft to sudden squalls in the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her modest size, her service spanned both recreational and commercial roles — a common trajectory for such vessels of the era.
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): Minnie Sutton
- Year Built: 1870
- Built At: Buffalo, New York
- Final Disposition: Wrecked
- Date Lost: 16 October 1877
- Final Location: Near Spectacle Reef, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled tug (towboat), originally used as a pleasure boat and later repurposed for passenger service and light towing. A small, versatile utility vessel.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Length: 16.7 metres / 54.8 feet
- Beam: 2.9 metres / 9.4 feet
- Depth: 1.2 metres / 3.9 feet
- Tonnage (Gross): 21 tons
Built by Cooper of Buffalo, NY, she was suited for small riverine and nearshore operations.
History
- 1870: Constructed at Buffalo, NY.
- 1871, April 9: Owned by A. English of East Saginaw, Michigan. Initially used as a pleasure boat.
- 1873: Served as a passenger vessel operating between Grand Haven and Fruitport, Michigan.
- 1875: Used as a ferry on the Black River; associated with Leighton and Dunford yard.
- 1875, July 1: Acquired by William F. Botsford of Port Huron, Michigan.
- 1877, October 16: While towing a lighter scow and bound from Cheboygan to Drummond Island, Michigan, she was caught in a squall and wrecked near Spectacle Reef. Both vessels sank. The crew and passengers abandoned ship to a nearby pier and were rescued four days later by the tug Bennett.
- 1878, June 29: Her documentation was officially surrendered, listed as a total loss.
Final Disposition
- Cause: Wrecked in a squall while towing near Spectacle Reef.
- Final Status: Sank along with her tow; crew survived.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed rediscovery or archaeological documentation noted. Likely remains are lost or fragmented in the reef zone.
Notmar & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Index – BGSU
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Inland Lloyds’ Marine Directory
- Peter J. VanderLinden Archives
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
Conclusion
The Minnie Sutton was a typical example of a small multipurpose tug operating in the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. Her loss highlights the vulnerability of light craft to sudden squalls in the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her modest size, her service spanned both recreational and commercial roles — a common trajectory for such vessels of the era.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: tugboat, wooden hull, Lake Huron, Straits of Mackinac, 19th century, storm wreck
- Categories: Small utility tugs, Great Lakes wrecks, Lake Huron
- Glossary:
- Lighter: A flat-bottomed barge used to load/unload ships or carry cargo short distances
- Spectacle Reef: A prominent hazardous reef east of the Mackinac Bridge, site of the Spectacle Reef Light