Sunken History—A Diver’s Journal
Steamer On Fire
The Burning of the Annie Young
by Captain Deb Biniecki

In 1890, visiting the Port Huron docks on a Sunday afternoon and watching ships take on their cargo was a popular activity. The steamer Annie Young of the Anchor Line was among the vessels at J. W. Thompson’s dock that day. No one observing this common scene would have imagined that, within hours, a life and death drama involving one of the familiar ships there would be played out just miles up the lake.

By 7 o’clock the next morning the cargo of barrels of oil and kegs of nails had been loaded. Captain Hugh Miller, in command of the Annie Young, pulled away from the dock and headed north out of the St. Clair toward Lake Superior ports. About 9 o’clock when opposite Lexington, flames were discovered issuing from the aft hatchway.

The wind was blowing hard from the northwest and fanned the flames. The sea was running high as the crew battled the fire with hoses. Their effort was in vain and the fire continued to gain. The captain ordered that the boats be lowered but gave strict orders that no one was to get in them until last resort. In the chaos, 12 of the men disobeyed orders and piled into the forward yawl before it was properly launched. Three of the men, realizing their danger, reconsidered and returned to the Young. The other nine left in the yawl were unable to get it away from the steamer, which continued to plunge ahead, as the engineers had been driven on deck by the flames.

Captain Miller reported seeing a fender strap burn away and watching a fender fall into the yawl, striking one of the men and causing him to tumble into the lake. After this, one by one, the men dropped out of the boat and into the churning water below. Within a few minutes all nine of the men in the yawl had gone to the bottom. First mate Moses Bogan, of Buffalo, was burned about the head. He was reported to be the only crew member burned in the blaze. The remaining crew continued to fight the blaze, which was being fueled by the barrels of oil on board.

Meanwhile, the steam barge Edward Smith, up bound from Marine City, was astern the Young about a mile when her captain noticed the blazing steamer ahead. Captain Mitchell immediately cut loose his two tows and steamed toward the Young. Risking the safety of his own vessel to assist the captain and crew of the Young, Captain Mitchell had to round to six times, taking off some of the crewmembers each time. It was an exceedingly difficult task coming along side a burning vessel in high seas. All 13 sailors and the captain were taken off the Annie Young and transported back to Port Huron.

Upon return to Port Huron, Captain Miller of the Young chartered the tug Kitty Haight and returned to the scene of the disaster. He found a smoldering hulk with the upper works burned away. She was rolling helplessly in the waves. As he watched, a wave caught the hull and she rolled over and sunk to the bottom.

The steamer Annie Young was valued at $55,000 and was insured. The names of the drowned were as follows: George McManus of Port Huron; John Donnelly of Erie; John Crosby of St. Catherines; George Conlin of Collingwood; John Gallager, residence unknown; and four deck hands, names and residences unknown. It was not known how the fire originated but it was believed to have started near the boiler.

If you would like to contact Capt. Deb with any ideas, feedback, or information regarding shipwreck stories, please contact her through Huron Explorations at 810-648-4638 or e-mail at captdeb@avci.net. SCUBA diving charters can also be arranged through the above contact information.