Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Pliny F. Barton (P.F. Barton)
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length: 61 ft 2 in (18.6 m); Beam: 14 ft 4 in (4.4 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft 1 in (1.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 40 30/95 tons (old measurement system)
- Location: Baby’s Point, St. Clair River, Michigan
- Original Owners: Aaron Goodwin and Wm. Burny; later Cook & Son
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Pliny F. Barton was a small wooden steam tug designed for utility work, including towing and assisting other vessels in harbors and rivers. Its construction reflected the practical needs of mid-19th-century maritime operations on the Great Lakes. Compact and maneuverable, the tug was built with a single-cylinder steam engine that powered a solitary propeller, enabling it to perform essential tasks efficiently.
Description
The Pliny F. Barton was a wooden steam tug built in 1853, primarily used for towing and assisting larger vessels in various maritime operations. It was designed to be compact and efficient, reflecting the needs of the time.
History
Early Years and Service
The Pliny F. Barton, built in Buffalo in 1853, was owned by Aaron Goodwin and Wm. Burny. It served as a functional steam tug, aiding the movement of larger vessels and handling other harbor duties. By 1860, ownership had shifted to Cook & Son of Irving, New York, indicating the vessel’s continued utility in regional maritime operations.
Mishap in 1859
In 1859, the tug faced its first significant challenge when it sank in the Blackwall Canal. Despite the severity of the incident, the vessel was successfully raised, repaired, and returned to service. This mishap demonstrated the tug’s durability and the determination of its operators to keep it operational.
Final Incident – May 31, 1865
Tragically, the Pliny F. Barton met its end in 1865 due to a devastating fire at Baby’s Point in the St. Clair River, Michigan. The fire completely consumed the vessel, resulting in its total loss. While contemporary reports, such as those in the Detroit Free Press, documented the disaster, they provided little detail about the circumstances of the fire, the presence of any casualties, or the cargo onboard.
Significant Incidents
- 1859: Sank in the Blackwall Canal but was raised and repaired.
- 1865: Destroyed by fire at Baby’s Point, resulting in total loss.
Final Disposition
The Pliny F. Barton was declared a total loss after the fire on May 31, 1865. The vessel was completely destroyed, and there were no attempts to salvage or rebuild it. The incident marked the end of the tug’s operational history.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The remains of the Pliny F. Barton are presumed to be nonexistent or minimal due to the total destruction caused by the fire. The site, if any remnants remain, is not accessible for exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”pliny-f-barton-p-f-barton” title=”References & Links”]
The Pliny F. Barton served as a vital utility tug during its operational years on the Great Lakes. Despite its practical design and history of resilience, the vessel succumbed to a catastrophic fire in 1865, marking the end of its service. While its loss was significant to the region’s maritime history, the lack of detailed records and surviving remains leaves much about the incident shrouded in mystery. The Pliny F. Barton remains a testament to the challenges of operating wooden steam tugs in the mid-19th century.
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
- Vessel Name: Pliny F. Barton (also known as P.F. Barton)
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions:
- Length: 61 feet 2 inches (18.6 meters)
- Beam: 14 feet 4 inches (4.4 meters)
- Depth: 5 feet 1 inch (1.6 meters)
- Tonnage: 40 30/95 tons (old measurement system)
- Propulsion: Single-cylinder steam engine with one boiler and one propeller
- Original Owners: Aaron Goodwin and Wm. Burny, Buffalo, New York
- Final Location: Baby’s Point, St. Clair River, Michigan
- Date of Loss: May 31, 1865
- Condition: Total loss by fire
Vessel Type Description
The Pliny F. Barton was a small wooden steam tug designed for utility work, including towing and assisting other vessels in harbors and rivers. Its construction reflected the practical needs of mid-19th-century maritime operations on the Great Lakes. Compact and maneuverable, the tug was built with a single-cylinder steam engine that powered a solitary propeller, enabling it to perform essential tasks efficiently.
History
Early Years and Service
The Pliny F. Barton, built in Buffalo in 1853, was owned by Aaron Goodwin and Wm. Burny. It served as a functional steam tug, aiding the movement of larger vessels and handling other harbor duties. By 1860, ownership had shifted to Cook & Son of Irving, New York, indicating the vessel’s continued utility in regional maritime operations.
Mishap in 1859
In 1859, the tug faced its first significant challenge when it sank in the Blackwall Canal. Despite the severity of the incident, the vessel was successfully raised, repaired, and returned to service. This mishap demonstrated the tug’s durability and the determination of its operators to keep it operational.
Final Incident – May 31, 1865
Tragically, the Pliny F. Barton met its end in 1865 due to a devastating fire at Baby’s Point in the St. Clair River, Michigan. The fire completely consumed the vessel, resulting in its total loss. While contemporary reports, such as those in the Detroit Free Press, documented the disaster, they provided little detail about the circumstances of the fire, the presence of any casualties, or the cargo onboard.
Final Disposition
The Pliny F. Barton was declared a total loss after the fire on May 31, 1865. The vessel was completely destroyed, and there were no attempts to salvage or rebuild it. The incident marked the end of the tug’s operational history.
Located By & Date
The exact location of the Pliny F. Barton‘s remains has not been documented or discovered. Given the fire’s intensity and the tug’s destruction, it is likely that little, if any, of the vessel remains at the site.
NOTMARs & Advisories
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically associated with the wreck of the Pliny F. Barton. Baby’s Point in the St. Clair River remains a historical reference point for the disaster.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The remains of the Pliny F. Barton are presumed to be nonexistent or minimal due to the total destruction caused by the fire. The site, if any remnants remain, is not accessible for exploration.
Resources & Links
- Detroit Free Press, Marine Disasters Summary for 1865: Original reporting on the fire that destroyed the Pliny F. Barton.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive records of vessels operating in the Great Lakes, including tugs like the Pliny F. Barton.
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Detailed records of vessel incidents and losses on the Great Lakes.
Conclusion
The Pliny F. Barton served as a vital utility tug during its operational years on the Great Lakes. Despite its practical design and history of resilience, the vessel succumbed to a catastrophic fire in 1865, marking the end of its service. While its loss was significant to the region’s maritime history, the lack of detailed records and surviving remains leaves much about the incident shrouded in mystery. The Pliny F. Barton remains a testament to the challenges of operating wooden steam tugs in the mid-19th century.
Keywords
Pliny F. Barton, P.F. Barton, steam tug, Baby’s Point fire, Great Lakes shipwreck, wooden vessel, St. Clair River, 19th-century maritime history, Buffalo shipbuilding.
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