Incident Report: Satellite (Steam Tug)

VESSEL INFORMATION

• Name: Satellite

• Type: Steam Tug

• Year Built: 1864

• Age at Incident: 15 years

• Service: Primarily used for towing Schooner barges on the Great Lakes.

FINAL VOYAGE

Date of Incident

• June 21, 1879

Route

• Departure: Detroit, Michigan

• Destination: Duluth, Minnesota

• Task: Towing four Schooner barges

EVENT DESCRIPTION

While en route to Duluth, the Satellite began to take on water rapidly due to an unknown cause. Captain Joshua B. Markee documented the event in a letter dated June 23, 1879. Despite efforts to bail and pump water from the vessel and locate the source of the leak, the situation quickly worsened.

• Captain’s Observations:

• Water was gaining “an inch a minute.”

• The crew was unable to identify or remove any obstructions (“no logs in the way”).

OUTCOME

Sinking

• The Satellite could not be saved and ultimately sank. The condition and fate of the Schooner barges being towed at the time are not mentioned in the captain’s account.

Crew Safety

• There is no indication of loss of life in the captain’s letter.

NOTABLE CONTEXT

The Satellite’s loss highlights the challenges of 19th-century Great Lakes navigation, especially for smaller, aging vessels like steam tugs. These vessels were critical to the success of commerce, often towing larger ships carrying bulk goods such as timber, grain, or coal. Their durability was frequently tested in the unpredictable conditions of the lakes.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Legacy: The Satellite adds to the record of Tugboat operations and their role in the transportation infrastructure of the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.

• Documentation: Captain Markee’s detailed letter provides a rare, firsthand account of a ship’s final moments, giving insight into the daily risks faced by mariners of the era.

POTENTIAL SITE EXPLORATION

If the wreck of the Satellite were to be located, it could serve as a historical and archaeological site of interest. The condition of the wreck and the surrounding area might offer clues to the cause of the leak and further details about the Tug’s construction and operation.

Would you like assistance in gathering more historical records or exploring its potential wreck site?

External Links

• New York Times