Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sachem
- Type: Wooden steambarge
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder: Duncan Robertson, Grand Haven, Michigan
- Dimensions: 187 ft × 22.5 ft × 14.8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 739.7 gross / 542.7 net tons
- Location: Roberts Landing, Michigan, on the St. Clair River
- Official Number: 116267
- Original Owners: J. E. Potts, F. M. Thompson, Edward A. Ayer, Mitchell & Rowland Lumber, Argo Steamship Co., Byron S. Aldrich, C. H. Little Co., United Fuel & Supply Co., Mae Lockheart and Lockheart Towing
- Number of Masts: 2 (likely used for auxiliary sails or derrick gear)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Sachem was a wooden steambarge designed primarily for hauling lumber and later sand. It featured a plain bow and round stern, with diagonal steel straps on its frames for added strength.
Description
Constructed in 1889, the Sachem was built by Duncan Robertson in Grand Haven, Michigan. It measured 187 feet in length, 22.5 feet in beam, and had a depth of 14.8 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 739.7 tons and a net tonnage of 542.7 tons, with a cargo capacity of approximately 675,000 board feet of lumber. The Sachem was powered by a 2-cylinder for-and-aft compound engine producing 425 horsepower and was equipped with a Scotch boiler.
History
The Sachem began its service in 1889 under the ownership of William H. Loutit, primarily transporting lumber and coal. Over the years, it changed hands multiple times, transitioning to sand haulage after being outfitted with clam-shell gear in 1912. The vessel frequently towed various barges and operated across the waters of Huron, Michigan, and Superior.
Significant Incidents
- 25 October 1928: The Sachem experienced an oil stove explosion while underway on the St. Clair River, leading to a catastrophic fire. The crew beached the vessel at Roberts Landing, but it burned completely, resulting in a total loss.
Final Disposition
The Sachem was declared a total loss after the fire on 25 October 1928. No casualties were reported from the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Sachem is no longer accessible for diving as it was destroyed in the fire at the dock. The site serves as a reminder of the risks associated with wooden steam vessels.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sachem-us-116267″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The history of the Sachem highlights the challenges faced by wooden steam vessels during the transition to modern marine fuel systems. Its legacy continues to be a point of interest for maritime historians and enthusiasts.
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
- Vessel Name: Sachem
- Official Number: 116267
- Year Built: 1889
- Built At: Grand Haven, Michigan (by Duncan Robertson)
- Vessel Type: Wooden steambarge
- Hull Material & Construction: Wood with plain bow, round stern, diagonal steel straps on frames; saw a steel boiler house
- Decks: 1
- Final Disposition: Burned to total loss at dock
- Date of Loss: 25 October 1928
- Location: Roberts Landing, Michigan, on the St. Clair River
- Cause of Loss: Oil stove explosion resulted in a catastrophic fire while the vessel was in operation (sighted underway before beaching) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, United States Coast Guard, Internet Archive, genealogy.loutitlibrary.org, Wikipedia)
- Casualties: None reported
Vessel Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length/Beam/Depth | 187′ × 22.5′ × 14.8′ |
| Tonnage | 739.7 gross / 542.7 net tons |
| Cargo Capacity | ~675,000 board feet of lumber |
| Engine & Boilers | 2-cylinder for‑and‑aft compound engine (21 × 38 in), 425 hp; 1 Scotch boiler (12 × 12 ft, 120 psi) |
| Propulsion | Single screw, suited to tow lumber barges and general freight |
| Masts | 2 (likely used for auxiliary sails or derrick gear) |
Mid-Life Service Highlights
- Initiated service in 1889 under William H. Loutit, moving lumber and coal with barge tows
- Over subsequent decades, served multiple owners—stepping into sand haulage when outfitted with clam-shell gear in 1912
- Frequently towed barges named Halsted, Homer, Saveland, George B. Owen, Abram Smith, and others, operating across Huron, Michigan, and Superior waters
- Ownership timeline:
- 1889: J. E. Potts (Au Sable, MI) → 1891: F. M. Thompson (Detroit) → 1893: Edward A. Ayer (Chicago) → 1899: Mitchell & Rowland Lumber (Toledo) → 1906: Argo Steamship Co. (Mentor, OH) → 1910: Byron S. Aldrich (Detroit) → 1912: C. H. Little Co. (Detroit) → 1914: United Fuel & Supply Co. (Detroit) → 1927–1928: Mae Lockheart and Lockheart Towing (Detroit)
Final Incident Overview
On 25 October 1928, while underway on the St. Clair River near Roberts Landing, Sachem experienced an oil-stove explosion that spurred a rapid and uncontrollable fire. The crew beached the vessel at Roberts Landing but it burned completely, resulting in a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Sources & Citations
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“S” entries) documenting loss at Roberts Landing with no fatalities and cause details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Michigan Maritime Heritage Study referencing the 1928 fire loss (CORE)
Historical Context & Significance
- Built in the classic lumber-hauling configuration typical of late-Victorian Great Lakes steam freighters, Sachem played a notable role in inter-lake commerce
- Its lengthy operational life—spanning nearly 40 years—reflects durability bolstered by structural enhancements (steel straps, boiler housing)
- The 1928 fire marked one of many non-collision, oil-stove-started infernos that plagued wooden steam vessels during the transition into modern marine fuel systems
Keywords & Categories
Region: St. Clair River, Michigan
Vessel Type: Wooden steambarge (lumber/sand freighter)
Cause of Loss: Onboard fire (oil-stove explosion)
Cargo: Lumber; later sand (clam-shell-equipped)
Casualties: None
Era: 1889–1928
Dive Potential: None (destroyed at dock)
Historical Significance: Long-serving lumber hauler, example of fire risk in wooden steam vessels