Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Roberta
- Type: Converted yacht and tug
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Dimensions: 71 ft × 13 ft × 4 ft; 31 GRT / 21 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 31 GRT / 21 NRT
- Location: Between Monroe, Michigan, and the Sister Islands
- Official Number: 110772
- Original Owners: E.R. Egnew (original), later acquired by railroad interests
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally a private luxury yacht, Roberta was converted for use as a steam tug—reflecting a common practice at the time for accommodating tourist and excursion traffic on Lake Erie.
Description
Identification & Site Information
Name: Roberta
Built: 1888 at Mount Clemens, Michigan (as a private yacht)
Official Number: 110772
Vessel Type: Converted yacht and tug
Dimensions: 71 ft × 13 ft × 4 ft; 31 GRT / 21 NRT
Final Loss: 27 July 1900
Location: Between Monroe, Michigan, and the Sister Islands, Lake Erie
Cargo: None (en route to tow a yacht fleet)
Crew & Casualties: None reported
History
History & Final Voyage
Built in 1888 for E.R. Egnew of Mount Clemens and later acquired by railroad interests, Roberta was being chartered in summer 1900 by Capt. Jarriat to assist with towing a fleet of yachts departing Monroe for Put-in-Bay. On 27 July 1900, during the transit, a fire broke out in her coal bunker. The blaze quickly spread through her pine decking, gutting the vessel. The crew abandoned ship in the tug’s small boats and survived without injury (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Roberta had previously burned at McSweeney’s Dock in Mount Clemens on 22 September 1898 while undergoing conversion work. She was rebuilt and remeasured in early 1899.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
– Fire on 22 September 1898 during conversion work at McSweeney’s Dock.
– Fire on 27 July 1900 during towing operations, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. Although the crew was recovered, the vessel itself was destroyed by fire. No salvage or reconstruction followed.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Located By & Date Found
While the loss was witnessed and documented, no remains were mapped. The wreck was never recovered, and her hull was likely consumed by fire or scuttled.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers were installed. The Monroe–Sister Islands passage remains in vessel traffic but now benefits from modern firefighting protocols and tug safety standards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”roberta-us-110772″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
Roberta, originally launched as a yacht in 1888, was destroyed by fire on 27 July 1900 while serving as a tug for a summer boating event. Though previously rebuilt after a prior fire, her second blaze ended her service life. Thankfully, her crew was uninjured.
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
Name: Roberta
Built: 1888 at Mount Clemens, Michigan (as a private yacht)
Official Number: 110772
Vessel Type: Converted yacht and tug
Dimensions: 71 ft × 13 ft × 4 ft; 31 GRT / 21 NRT
Final Loss: 27 July 1900
Location: Between Monroe, Michigan, and the Sister Islands, Lake Erie
Cargo: None (en route to tow a yacht fleet)
Crew & Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
Originally a private luxury yacht, Roberta was converted for use as a steam tug—reflecting a common practice at the time for accommodating tourist and excursion traffic on Lake Erie.
History & Final Voyage
Built in 1888 for E.R. Egnew of Mount Clemens and later acquired by railroad interests, Roberta was being chartered in summer 1900 by Capt. Jarriat to assist with towing a fleet of yachts departing Monroe for Put‑in‑Bay. On 27 July 1900, during the transit, a fire broke out in her coal bunker. The blaze quickly spread through her pine decking, gutting the vessel. The crew abandoned ship in the tug’s small boats and survived without injury (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Roberta had previously burned at McSweeney’s Dock in Mount Clemens on 22 September 1898 while undergoing conversion work. She was rebuilt and remeasured in early 1899 .
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. Although the crew was recovered, the vessel itself was destroyed by fire. No salvage or reconstruction followed.
Located By & Date Found
While the loss was witnessed and documented, no remains were mapped. The wreck was never recovered, and her hull was likely consumed by fire or scuttled.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers were installed. The Monroe–Sister Islands passage remains in vessel traffic but now benefits from modern firefighting protocols and tug safety standards.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry for Roberta with full build, loss, and recovery timeline (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
Roberta, originally launched as a yacht in 1888, was destroyed by fire on 27 July 1900 while serving as a tug for a summer boating event. Though previously rebuilt after a prior fire, her second blaze ended her service life. Thankfully, her crew was uninjured.