Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Virginius (renamed Thomas D. Stimson in 1887)
- Type: Wood-hulled screw-propelled barge
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Daly & Son
- Dimensions: 160.6 ft × 31.6 ft × 11.6 ft (49.0 × 9.6 × 3.5 m); 509 GRT (468 NRT)
- Registered Tonnage: 509 GRT (468 NRT)
- Location: St. Clair Flats, near Riverside, Michigan
- Official Number: 25992
- Original Owners: Torrent & Farr (Muskegon, MI)
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally constructed as a powered barge (Virginius), she received a significant refit in 1887—including a centerboard, additional deck, and machinery upgrades—enabling independent steam-powered movements. She served in timber and coal towing operations across the Upper Great Lakes.
Description
The Virginius was a wooden-hulled screw-propelled barge equipped with a steeple compound engine. After her renaming to Thomas D. Stimson in 1887, she was enhanced for towing operations, allowing her to operate independently.
History
- 1881–1882: Owned by Torrent & Farr (Muskegon, MI); towed coal in partnerships (e.g., with Pacific in Toledo–Milwaukee trade).
- 1887: Rebuilt, renamed Thomas D. Stimson, enhanced vessel structure and propulsion.
- 1887–1903: Regular towing assignments (e.g., Newsboy, Atmosphere, Rogers & Donaldson, Harvey Bissell).
- 4 Sep 1890: Collision with Welland Canal Lock 18.
- May 1893: Grounding in Lake George.
- 1903: Final measurements: 159.1 ft × 31.6 ft × 11.6 ft; 422 GRT (418 NRT).
Significant Incidents
- 30 June 1903: The vessel burned and was destroyed at St. Clair Flats while loaded with lumber due to a fire sparked by an exploding lamp onboard.
Final Disposition
- Date & Location: 30 June 1903; burned and destroyed at St. Clair Flats, near Riverside, Michigan (Algonac area), while loaded with lumber.
- Cause: Fire sparked by an exploding lamp onboard; the vessel was beached to prevent sinking and consumed by the blaze.
- Cargo: Lumber.
- Casualties: None known.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological surveys or dive expeditions have recorded final wreckage. Portions of hull remains may lie ashore near Algonac in shallow water zones, though no official documentation exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”thomas-d-stimson-us-25922-virginius” title=”References & Links”]
The Virginius / Thomas D. Stimson typifies a Great Lakes cargo barge upgraded into a self-powered towing vessel. After two decades of service and multiple reconfigurations, her career ended in a lamp-induced fire in 1903, sparing no structural remnants. Her loss highlights fire hazards aboard wooden steam- and lamp-equipped tow vessels. While her final resting place remains unverified, her legacy endures in Great Lakes marine history.
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
- Name: Virginius (renamed Thomas D. Stimson in 1887)
- Official Number: 25992
- Year built: 20 May 1881 at Mount Clemens, Michigan by Daly & Son
- Type: Wood-hulled screw-propelled barge with a steeple compound engine
- Dimensions (1887): 160.6 ft × 31.6 ft × 11.6 ft (49.0 × 9.6 × 3.5 m); 509 GRT (468 NRT)
- Engine: 17″×30″×28″ twin-cylinder, 380 hp @ 92 rpm; single firebox boiler, built by Buhl Iron Works, Detroit – fitted in 1887 with iron-lined boilers and windlass (Naval Marine Archive, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Construction
Originally constructed as a powered barge (Virginius), she received a significant refit in 1887—including a centerboard, additional deck, and machinery upgrades—enabling independent steam-powered movements. She served in timber and coal towing operations across the Upper Great Lakes .
Operational History
- 1881–1882: Owned by Torrent & Farr (Muskegon, MI); towed coal in partnerships (e.g., with Pacific in Toledo–Milwaukee trade) (Naval Marine Archive)
- 1887: Rebuilt, renamed Thomas D. Stimson, enhanced vessel structure and propulsion (Naval Marine Archive)
- 1887–1903: Regular towing assignments (e.g., Newsboy, Atmosphere, Rogers & Donaldson, Harvey Bissell)
- 4 Sep 1890: Collision with Welland Canal Lock 18
- May 1893: Grounding in Lake George
- 1903: Final measurements: 159.1 ft × 31.6 ft × 11.6 ft; 422 GRT (418 NRT) (Facebook, Naval Marine Archive)
Final Disposition
- Date & Location: 30 June 1903; burned and destroyed at St. Clair Flats, near Riverside, Michigan (Algonac area), while loaded with lumber (Naval Marine Archive)
- Cause: Fire sparked by an exploding lamp onboard; the vessel was beached to prevent sinking and consumed by the blaze
- Cargo: Lumber
- Casualties: None known
Located By & Discovery Status
No archaeological surveys or dive expeditions have recorded final wreckage. Portions of hull remains may lie ashore near Algonac in shallow water zones, though no official documentation exists.
Notmar & Navigation Advisories
No specific Notices to Mariners reference this wreck. However, the St. Clair Flats region, near Algonac, remains a complex shallow water network of flats and channels. Modern operators should consult updated charts and use caution during low water.
Resources
- Other Great Lakes & Inland Shipbuilders (Naval Marine Archive) – details on construction, refit, renaming, and final loss (Naval Marine Archive)
Conclusion
The Virginius / Thomas D. Stimson typifies a Great Lakes cargo barge upgraded into a self-powered towing vessel. After two decades of service and multiple reconfigurations, her career ended in a lamp-induced fire in 1903, sparing no structural remnants. Her loss highlights fire hazards aboard wooden steam- and lamp-equipped tow vessels. While her final resting place remains unverified, her legacy endures in Great Lakes marine history.
Keywords & Categories
- Keywords: Virginius barge, Thomas D. Stimson, St. Clair Flats fire, powered barge, lamp explosion
- Categories: Wooden screw-propelled barges, fire losses, St. Clair River wrecks
- Glossary:
- Steeple compound engine: A large high-pressure steam engine with two vertically aligned cylinders
- Centerboard: Retractable keel enhancing stability without deep draft
- St. Clair Flats: Shallow expanse in St. Clair River near Algonac; known for grounding hazards