The wooden hull, steambarge Francis Hinton, was the final vessel built by the Danish immigrants Hanson and Scove, for the Lake Michigan lumber trade. The explosion in the lumber industry during post-Civil War years led to the introduction of a new type of commercial vessel on the Great Lakes: the steambarge. Between 1870 and 1900, over 600 of these vessels were built at shipyards across the Great Lakes. Steambarges, especially when towing additional barges in consort, could move large loads of lumber cheaply and efficiently.

The vessel was less than the average size for the 1909 lumber fleet, she had a listed capacity of 550,000 board feet. Her Inland Lloyd's rating was A1 and valuation $35,000 in 1890.
November 16, 1909. The steambarge Francis Hinton,heavily lumber laden and bound from Manistique to Chicago, encountered a gale and after discovering the vessel was taking on water, attempted to reach the Two Rivers Harbor. The water extinguished the fire in the boiler leaving the Hinton a crippled craft. The crew dropped anchor, but the high seas continued to pound and the with the bilge filling with water the captain had the anchor line cut and the vessel drifted towards shore where the Two Rivers Lifesaving crew observed the Hinton's plight. The lifesaving crew determined that the seas were too rough to attempt a water rescue The captain and the eleven man crew abandoned ship by deploying the yawl and made it to shore safely. The craft subsequently beached in Maritime Bay, approximately 1.9 miles northeast of the Manitowoc River, south of the life saving station. The following day, the lifesaving crew along with the Hinton's crew stripped the ruined vessel. Exposed to storms and ice the Francis Hinton went to pieces in shallow water and was forgotten until 1987 when rediscovered by sport divers.
The wreck of the steambarge Francis Hinton lies in Maritime Bay, approximately two miles northeast of the mouth of the Manitowoc River. It is embedded in a firm clay bottom, surrounded and partially covered by pockets of silty sand. Due to its shallow depth and exposed location, the wreck has received a significant amount of damage from ice and wave action. The bilge is extant; artifacts and machinery have been salvaged from the site. The Hinton was originally stripped after stranding. Visibility is poor, averaging less than 10'. In addition to the bilges, remains of the engine works, boiler and a four-bladed, 8'9.5" diameter propeller are visible. This site is buoyed by the State Historical Society.

A dive guide for this vessel is available for purchase.