Shipwreck Report: Sidewheel Tug AJAX

Identification & Site Information

•Wreck Name: AJAX

•Other Names: None

•Wreck Type: Sidewheel Tug

•Dimensions: 107 feet (32.6 m) length, 28.6 feet (8.7 m) beam, 4.7 feet (1.4 m) depth

•Gross Tonnage: 95.9 tons

•Build Date: 1865

•Builder: Florence (Bay City), Michigan

•Propulsion: Sidewheel driven by one boiler, no propellers

•Final Location: Near Bay City, on Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

•Coordinates: Not specified

Vessel Type Description

The AJAX was a sidewheel Tug, a common vessel type in the mid-19th century used primarily for towing and assisting larger ships in harbours and along waterways. Sidewheel tugs were distinguished by their paddle wheels on either side of the Hull, powered by a central steam engine. Constructed from wood with a single Deck, the AJAX was typical of its time, providing crucial services in navigation and transportation on the Great Lakes.

History

The AJAX was built in Florence (Bay City), Michigan, in 1865. However, historical sources indicate potential confusion regarding its origins, as it may have been constructed on the remains of an earlier Tug also named AJAX, built in 1855 in Tanktown (Ft. Howard), Wisconsin.

Operational Timeline

•Early Years: Originally employed by the Fox-Wisconsin Transportation Company, the AJAX serviced routes between Green Bay and Fond du Lac/Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

•Ownership Changes:

•Transferred to Thomas Hubbell and Charles Harvey of Houghton, Michigan, in 1859.

•Registered in Detroit in 1865 under the Chicago Salt & Lumber Company of Saginaw, Michigan.

•Ownership transitioned to C.W. Gibson (1867), Elias Denison (August 1867), and Amos Easton (May 1868), all based in Bay City, Michigan.

The AJAX was described in its later years as a “riverboat” and became an integral part of local shipping and transportation networks.

Final Disposition

On August 9, 1872, the AJAX caught fire while operating near Bay City, Michigan, on Saginaw Bay. Despite the fire causing extensive damage estimated at $3,500, no casualties were reported, and the vessel was not carrying cargo at the time. The Tug was destroyed near the Stone Island Dock in Saginaw Bay, marking the end of its service.

Current Condition & Accessibility

•Status: The wreck site of the AJAX has not been located or formally documented.

•Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs): There are no active notices or advisories associated with the wreck.

Legacy

The AJAX illustrates the essential role of sidewheel tugs in the 19th-century maritime economy of the Great Lakes. Its career was marked by multiple ownerships and transitions between regional shipping routes, reflecting the bustling trade and transportation landscape of the time. The fire that claimed the AJAX is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of wooden vessels, particularly to fire, which posed a significant hazard in the era before modern safety measures.

Resources & Links

•Great Lakes Ships Database

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The AJAX, despite its relatively short service life, played a vital role in maritime operations around Saginaw Bay and beyond. Its demise by fire is emblematic of the challenges faced by wooden vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. While its exact resting place remains undiscovered, the AJAX remains an intriguing chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords

#AJAX #SidewheelTug #SaginawBay #GreatLakesShipwreck #MaritimeHistory #WoodenVessels #19thCenturyShipping