IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Wales
• Type: Tugboat
• Year Built: 1881
• Builder: Parry & Dyble, Sarnia, Ontario
• Official Number: 83375
• Original Owner: Muskoka Mill & Lumber Co., Toronto
• Later Owners:
• •1892: Captain F.T. Hackett, Amherstburg, Ontario
• •1895-1901: Wescott Wrecking Co., Sarnia
• •Later owned by the Great Lakes Towing Company
• Dimensions:
• •Length: 126 feet (38.4 meters)
• •Beam: 24 feet (7.3 meters)
• •Depth: 11 feet (3.4 meters)
• •Gross Tonnage: 350 tons
• Engine & Propulsion:
• •Type: Screw Propulsion
• •Engine: 22” x 20”, built by E.E. Gilbert, Montreal
• •Boilers: Two 7’ x 15’ boilers
• Final Location:
• •Coordinates: 46° 31.600’N, 84° 14.227’W
• •Depth: Shallow (partially submerged, visible in Google Earth imagery)
• •Site: North of Partridge Point, St. Mary’s River, near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Wales (1881) was a wooden-hulled Tugboat initially built for towing and later converted into a wrecking Tug under Captain F.T. Hackett. With a powerful Screw Propulsion system and substantial boiler capacity, the Wales was highly versatile and well-suited for salvage operations on the Great Lakes. Its dual roles in towing and wrecking made it a key vessel in the maritime industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

HISTORY

Construction & Early Service

Built in 1881 at Sarnia, Ontario, the Wales was commissioned by the Muskoka Mill & Lumber Co., which also owned the original Tug Wales (built in 1864). The newer Wales served as a towing vessel for the lumber trade, assisting in the transportation of logs and other materials. Its robust construction and upgraded propulsion system were indicative of the demands of industrial shipping on the Great Lakes.

Transition to Wrecking Tug

In 1892, the Wales was sold to Captain F.T. Hackett of Amherstburg, Ontario, and retrofitted for salvage operations. As a wrecking Tug, it was active on Lakes Erie and Huron, the St. Clair River, and the Detroit River, recovering vessels and cargoes stranded or damaged during navigation. By 1895, the vessel was sold to the Wescott Wrecking Co. of Sarnia and later to the Great Lakes Towing Company.

Final Years

The Wales appears to have been decommissioned by 1904, though reports from 1905 suggest it was briefly moved to Sault Ste. Marie by the Great Lakes Towing Company. There is little evidence to indicate the vessel was ever used after this move. An obituary for Captain Peter Telfer in 1936 mentions the Wales as an Abandoned Steamer beached off Partridge Point in the St. Mary’s River, where it remained visible for decades.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Wales was beached and Abandoned near Partridge Point in the St. Mary’s River. Google Earth measurements confirm the wreck closely aligns with the dimensions of the 1881 Wales. Parts of its original boilers and Hull remain visible within the wreck site, making it a tangible link to Great Lakes maritime history.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The wreck lies in shallow water north of Partridge Point. While degraded over time, remnants of the boilers and Hull structure are still identifiable, offering insights into its construction and usage. The shallow depth makes it accessible for snorkelers and divers, though the site is subject to sediment accumulation and may be fragile.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the Wales wreck. However, mariners in the St. Mary’s River region should exercise caution due to the potential for submerged hazards near the wreck site.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Sault Evening News (September 5, 1905)

•Sault Daily Star (January 10, 1936, obituary of Captain Peter Telfer)

CONCLUSION

The Wales (1881) was an important Tugboat during its operational life, transitioning from towing to salvage operations and serving as a workhorse on the Great Lakes. Its abandonment at Partridge Point marks the end of a storied career, leaving behind a wreck that offers a glimpse into the industrial and maritime history of the late 19th century.

KEYWORDS

Wales Tugboat, St. Mary’s River Shipwreck, Great Lakes Towing Company, Wescott Wrecking Co., Partridge Point Wreck, Sarnia-built Tug, 19th-century Salvage Tug, Great Lakes Maritime History.