Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: Originally built as R.E. Schuck, renamed C.C. Hand in 1904
• Official Number: 110860
• Vessel Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter
• Builder: Quayle & Son, Cleveland, Ohio
• Year Built: 1890
• Specifications: Length: 266 ft (81 m) Beam: 42 ft (12.8 m) Depth: 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1,868 tons
• Net Tonnage: 1,524 tons
• Owner at Loss: F.C. Hackett, Detroit, Michigan

The George Hand was a wooden propeller steam Tug, built in 1868 by Hitchcock in Buffalo, New York. She was small but powerful, designed for harbor work and salvage operations. Measuring 35 feet (10.7 m) long, 13 feet (4 m) wide, and 6 feet (1.8 m) deep, she had a Gross Tonnage of 25 tons and was primarily used for lumber industry work and ship recovery efforts. Owned by George Hand and Gratwick, Smith & Fryer Lumber Co., she was part of a growing fleet of tugs that supported the thriving Great Lakes shipping industry.

Service History & Notable Incidents

Despite her small size, the George Hand played a significant role in ship salvage operations on the Great Lakes. One of her most notable incidents occurred in August 1886, when she was working on the wreck of the Canadian Steamer Algoma near Little Schooner Island, off Isle Royale. During the operation, a storm drove the Tug ashore, and she was Abandoned to underwriters. However, she was later recovered and returned to service, proving the resilience of these small but essential workboats.

It is important to note that the George Hand is often confused with the Tug Geo. R. Hand, a different vessel that had a much longer service life.

Final Loss – June 9, 1888

On June 9, 1888, while moored in Oscoda Harbor, Michigan, on Lake Huron, the George Hand caught fire and was completely destroyed. Given her wooden construction and the presence of highly flammable materials on board, the fire spread rapidly, leaving no chance for salvage. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but incidents like these were common among wooden tugs, which often had hot engines, coal dust, and oil-soaked decks that made them highly susceptible to fire.

Fortunately, there was no loss of life, as the crew was able to escape before the flames consumed the vessel. However, the George Hand was deemed a Total Loss, and with no efforts to recover her, her remains settled into the harbour floor or were removed over time by natural forces and harbor activity.

Final Disposition & Wreck Site

The remains of the George Hand were never officially documented, and any wreckage that once existed is likely long gone due to harbor dredging, shifting sands, and later construction in Oscoda Harbor, Michigan. Unlike deeper wrecks that remain well-preserved, shallow water burn sites like this one rarely leave much behind.

Resources & Links

📖 More on Great Lakes Shipwrecks:
🔗 Maritime History of the Great Lakes
🔗 Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
🔗 David Swayze Shipwreck File
🔗 Save Ontario Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The George Hand was a small but hardworking steam Tug, playing a key role in salvage operations and Great Lakes commerce. Despite surviving a wreck in 1886, she ultimately met her end by fire in 1888, a fate that claimed many similar wooden steam tugs. While she may not be one of the most famous wrecks, her story is a reminder of the essential but often overlooked vessels that kept the Great Lakes shipping industry moving.

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