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.

Wooden Propeller Vessel – Lake Huron, at Tawas City, Michigan

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Seagull (Official number 23526)
• Year & Builder: Launched 1864 at Oakville, Ontario by J. Simpson as a two-masted schooner, later converted to a propeller-driven vessel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Type: Wooden propeller vessel
• Registry: U.S. registry (Ontario-built, later registered in U.S.)

Incident Summary

• Date of Loss: 5 July 1890
• Location: At dock, Tawas City, Lake Huron (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Cargo: Ice
• Casualties: One life lost
• Cause: A shipboard fire ignited, spilled onto adjacent dock and mills; vessel burned to total loss; drifted ablaze setting more structures aflame before finally stranding ashore and burning out (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Description

Seagull began life as a wooden two-masted schooner built in Ontario. Later fitted with a propeller engine, she adapted to evolving late 19th‑century Great Lakes freight operations, including hauling ice. Her moderate size and mixed heritage reflect the transitional vessel types of that era.

History & Crew

• Construction & Conversion: Built in 1864 in Oakville; later converted from sail to steam propulsion (propeller configuration) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Operational Use: Carried ice and other light freight on Lake Huron, frequently visiting ports such as Tawas City.
• Incident Details: On 5 July 1890, while moored at dock, a fire began onboard and spread rapidly to shore installations and lumber mills. The burning vessel drifted uncontrolled, igniting multiple structures before beaching and burning out. One crew member perished in the conflagration (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition

Seagull was declared a total loss. The vessel burned completely, and much of the waterfront infrastructure at Tawas City—including docks and lumber yards—was likewise destroyed. The hull drifted ashore and ceased to exist as a navigable vessel.

Wreck Status & Diving Notes

• Recovery: No submerged remains believed extant; destruction was total and occurred in shallow port waters.
• Visibility: Historic reports do not indicate any salvage dive site; likely removed or destroyed in situ.

Notmars & Official Advisories

• No formal Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins recorded specific to this incident, likely due to the fire’s rapid spread and localization within port boundaries.

Research Gaps & Next Steps

• Crew Identity: Contemporary newspapers (like Tawas City Herald or regional Lake Huron press) could name the individual casualty and shed light on vessel ownership and cargo specifics.
• Municipal Records: Fire incident logs or port authority records from Tawas City (circa 1890) may document damage and response efforts.
• Insurance Files: Investigation of marine insurance archives may reveal policy details or loss valuations.

Resources & References

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“S‑section”) – entry Seagull: Logs official number, builder, date, cause, cargo, casualty count, and loss description at Tawas City in 1890 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Keywords & Categories

Wooden propeller vessel, 1890 fire, Tawas City harbour, ice cargo, single casualty, complete burn‑out.

Summary

The Seagull, an 1864 wooden propeller vessel originally built as a schooner, burned to a total loss at Tawas City, Michigan on 5 July 1890, while carrying ice. The fire triggered a larger conflagration ashore, destroying docks, mills, and infrastructure. One life was lost. The vessel drifted ashore and burned out in full. While no physical wreck remains for diving or archaeological survey, the event is historically notable in Lake Huron’s maritime fire losses.

Let me know if you wish to trace casualty records, fire brigade archives, or municipal insurance reports for deeper detail.

seagull-cus-23526 1890-07-05 13:58:00