Minnie Sutton (1870)

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

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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.