Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Red Jacket
- Type: Propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1877
- Builder: W. Morris, Port Huron, Michigan
- Dimensions: 46 ft × 12 ft × 5 ft (14.0 m × 3.7 m × 1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 20 GRT
- Location: Entering Chicago River, Illinois
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Red Jacket was a small propeller-driven steam tug constructed in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1877. Built for harbor and river tow service, the tug operated with a modest tonnage of 20 GRT and dimensions of just 46 feet in length. Though small, her boiler propulsion system placed her among the many early steam vessels that faced operational hazards due to evolving steam technology and limited regulation.
Description
The Red Jacket was a small propeller-driven steam tug constructed in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1877. Built for harbor and river tow service, the tug operated with a modest tonnage of 20 GRT and dimensions of just 46 feet in length. Though small, her boiler propulsion system placed her among the many early steam vessels that faced operational hazards due to evolving steam technology and limited regulation.
History
Details of Red Jacket’s service are scarce, but she was actively engaged in assisting inbound and outbound vessels along the Lake Michigan–Chicago River corridor. On 18 June 1866, while assisting the brig Mary during entry into the Chicago River, she pulled alongside to slow or stop the sailing vessel. At this point, her boiler exploded catastrophically.
Only three men were aboard Red Jacket. Two were killed instantly in the blast. The third crewman’s fate is not fully documented. On the Mary, several sailors sustained injuries due to proximity and force of the explosion.
Significant Incidents
- 18 June 1866: Boiler explosion while assisting the brig Mary during entry into the Chicago River, resulting in the destruction of the Red Jacket and fatalities among her crew.
Final Disposition
The Red Jacket was completely destroyed—either burning to the waterline or sinking in the aftermath. Sources record her simply as “destroyed by a boiler explosion,” and no salvage is recorded. The location is presumed to be in or near the river mouth at Chicago harbor.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not found. No confirmed wreck location or recovery documentation has been identified. Urban dredging, riverfront redevelopment, and lack of salvage likely erased any identifiable remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”red-jacket-1877″ title=”References & Links”]
Two crew aboard Red Jacket were killed. Identities unknown. Injuries aboard the brig Mary noted in some accounts. Further research in 1866 newspaper archives (e.g., Chicago Tribune, Chicago Times) recommended.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None noted
Official Number: Not recorded
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Propeller steam tug
Builder: W. Morris, Port Huron, Michigan
Year Built: 1877
Dimensions: 46 ft × 12 ft × 5 ft (14.0 m × 3.7 m × 1.5 m)
Tonnage: 20 GRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: None
Date of Loss: 18 June 1866
Location: Entering Chicago River, Illinois
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Unknown
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Unknown
Crew: 3
Casualties: 2 fatalities (tug), several injuries aboard brig Mary
Description
The Red Jacket was a small propeller-driven steam tug constructed in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1877. Built for harbor and river tow service, the tug operated with a modest tonnage of 20 GRT and dimensions of just 46 feet in length. Though small, her boiler propulsion system placed her among the many early steam vessels that faced operational hazards due to evolving steam technology and limited regulation.
History
Details of Red Jacket’s service are scarce, but she was actively engaged in assisting inbound and outbound vessels along the Lake Michigan–Chicago River corridor. On 18 June 1866, while assisting the brig Mary during entry into the Chicago River, she pulled alongside to slow or stop the sailing vessel. At this point, her boiler exploded catastrophically.
Only three men were aboard Red Jacket. Two were killed instantly in the blast. The third crewman’s fate is not fully documented. On the Mary, several sailors sustained injuries due to proximity and force of the explosion.
Final Dispositions
The Red Jacket was completely destroyed—either burning to the waterline or sinking in the aftermath. Sources record her simply as “destroyed by a boiler explosion,” and no salvage is recorded. The location is presumed to be in or near the river mouth at Chicago harbor.
Located By & Date Found
Not found. No confirmed wreck location or recovery documentation has been identified.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. Incident predates formal Notices to Mariners.
Dive Information
Access: Unknown
Entry Point: Chicago River (historic entry point)
Conditions: Urban siltation and construction likely obscure site
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Lake Michigan
Permits: Required for urban or historical archaeological work
Dive Support: None; not a known recreational site
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Two crew aboard Red Jacket were killed. Identities unknown. Injuries aboard the brig Mary noted in some accounts. Further research in 1866 newspaper archives (e.g., Chicago Tribune, Chicago Times) recommended.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The tug Red Jacket exploded her boiler while pulling alongside the brig Mary. The vessel was instantly destroyed, two of her crew perished, and many aboard the Mary were struck by flying debris.”
— Chicago Times, June 19, 1866 (citation pending verification)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No official number recorded. Enrollment may reside in Port Huron or Chicago Customs House archives. No insurance or marine court inquest located in digital sources.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No known images or surveys. Urban dredging, riverfront redevelopment, and lack of salvage likely erased any identifiable remains.
Image Gallery
None available. Historical sketch of typical 1860s harbor tug may be used illustratively.
Resources & Links
References
- “Destroyed by Boiler Explosion,” Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, accessed 2025
- Chicago Times, June 19, 1866 (citation under review)
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None noted
Official Number: Not recorded
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Mouth of the Chicago River, Illinois
Vessel Type: Steam tug
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 46 ft × 12 ft × 5 ft; 20 GRT
Condition: Destroyed
Cause of Loss: Boiler explosion
Discovery Date: Not found
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: None recorded
Hazards: None noted
Permits Required: Required for any archaeological survey or recovery in Chicago River