SHIPWRECK REPORT: H.F. Bues

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: H.F. Bues

• Type: Wooden Propeller Tug

• Location: Middle Ground, Pelee Passage, Lake Erie

• Date of Incident: July 27, 1910

• Depth of Wreck: Unknown, reported to be in deep water

• Coordinates: Approx. 8 miles offshore from Pelee Passage

• Crew: 4 (no fatalities)

CONSTRUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS

• Year Built: 1873

• Builder: Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Original Dimensions (1873):

• Length: 47 feet (14.3 meters)

• Beam: 13 feet (4 meters)

• Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)

• Gross Tonnage: 25

• Net Tonnage: 16

• Revised Dimensions (1904):

• Length: 51.3 feet (15.6 meters)

• Beam: 13.3 feet (4 meters)

• Depth: 8.4 feet (2.6 meters)

• Net Tonnage: 12

OWNERSHIP HISTORY

• 1876: Starke Bros., Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• 1879: C. Starke & Co.

• 1884: Smith & Starke

• 1892: C.E. Mitchell, Ludington, Michigan

• 1900: William S. Edwards & Edward Bros. Dredge Co., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

HISTORY & INCIDENT DETAILS

The H.F. Bues served as a Tug for nearly four decades, primarily engaged in towing operations. On July 27, 1910, while towing a Dredge through Pelee Passage in Lake Erie, the Tug encountered a severe storm. A cyclone struck, causing the Tug to sink in deep water approximately 8 miles offshore.

The crew of four escaped the incident unharmed and reported the accident. Remarkably, the Dredge being towed made it safely to shore.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The H.F. Bues was lost to the depths of Lake Erie. While the Dredge survived the storm, the Tug was irreparably sunk, leaving its final resting place in an undetermined location in deep water near Pelee Passage.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

• Condition: The wreck has not been officially located or documented in diving or salvage records. The Tug is presumed to be in deep water and likely remains in a deteriorated state.

• Accessibility: Exploration may be challenging due to the unknown location and depth of the wreck.

SIGNIFICANCE

The H.F. Bues is a testament to the resilience and risks faced by small working vessels on the Great Lakes. Its sinking highlights the unpredictable and dangerous conditions encountered by maritime operators of the time.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Explore Records

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: H.F. Bues Details

The story of the H.F. Bues is a reminder of the hardworking tugs that formed the backbone of maritime operations in the Great Lakes and the challenges they faced during their service.