Identification & Site Information

•Name: ARIADNE

•Type: Propeller-driven wooden fish Tug

•Built: 1885, by William J. McDonnell in Wallaceburg, Ontario

•Dimensions:

•Length: 63 feet (20 meters)

•Beam: 13.6 feet (4.15 meters)

•Depth: 5.2 feet (1.58 meters)

•Tonnage:

•Gross: 37.57 tons

•Net: 25.55 tons

•Engine: 7-horsepower single-cylinder engine, built by J.F. McKeough in Chatham, Ontario

•Final Disposition: Wrecked and Abandoned at Point Pelee, Ontario, on November 23, 1916

Vessel Type Description

The ARIADNE was a wooden fish Tug designed for commercial fishing and transportation. With its small size and specialized construction, the vessel was typical of the fishing industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Propeller-driven tugs like the ARIADNE were valued for their reliability and maneuverability in tight waters and harsh weather.

History

Construction and Early Ownership

The ARIADNE was built in 1885 in Wallaceburg, Ontario, a hub for small shipbuilding in the Great Lakes region. The vessel was initially owned by Jas. Winard Steinhoff of Wallaceburg and registered there on September 17, 1885. Over time, ownership changed hands:

•1901: Owned by A. Ribble of Dresden, Ontario

•1914: Owned by Asa Riddle of Dresden, Ontario

Final Voyage

On November 23, 1916, the ARIADNE encountered a storm near Point Pelee, Ontario, in Lake Erie. The vessel was driven ashore, where it was beached and ultimately Abandoned. No details about the cargo or potential loss of life were recorded, leaving the circumstances of its final moments largely unknown.

Legacy and Final Disposition

The ARIADNE’s wreck near Point Pelee is a testament to the risks faced by small fishing vessels navigating the Great Lakes, especially during the stormy autumn months. Its abandonment reflects the challenges of salvage and the economic realities of early 20th-century fishing operations.

Resources & Links

1.Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive records of vessel histories.

2.Great Lakes Ships Database: Archival details of ARIADNE and similar vessels.

3.David Swayze Shipwreck File: Repository of Great Lakes maritime losses and incidents.

Tags

#GreatLakes #LakeErie #FishTug #Shipwreck #MaritimeHistory #PointPelee #ARIADNE #WoodenPropeller