Steam Tug Fannie Tuthill (1873–1905)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Fannie Tuthill (sometimes pronounced or spelled “Tuttle”)
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 120130
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden propeller steam Tug
• Builder: C. Wheeler, East Saginaw, Michigan
• Year Built & Launched: 1873
• Specifications: Length: 60 ft (18.3 m) Beam: 15 ft (4.6 m) Depth: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 28 GT
• Net Tonnage: 14 NT
• Date Lost: October 1, 1905
• Location of Loss: St. Clair Flats, Lake St. Clair
• Cause of Loss: Collision
• Loss of Life: 1 of 14 aboard
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (used as a tender for canal work)

Vessel Description & Service History

The Fannie Tuthill was a wooden-hulled steam Tug, built in 1873 by C. Wheeler in East Saginaw, Michigan. Steam tugs of this type were widely used for harbor work, towing operations, and government projects.

In her later years, she was operating as a tender for the Flats Canal Project, a navigation improvement effort in the St. Clair Flats, which is one of the most complex and shallow areas of the Great Lakes system.

She was owned by John P. Nagle of Toledo, Ohio, and commanded by Captain Charles Abar at the time of her loss.

Final Incident & Loss

On October 1, 1905, while working in the St. Clair Flats, the Fannie Tuthill was rammed by the 1,000-ton Steamer D.C. Whitney. The collision was catastrophic, completely destroying the Tug—even her engine was smashed beyond repair. There were 14 people aboard, including the crew and Flats Canal workers. Most were rescued by the steamers George H. Russell and Mariposa. One person lost their life. To make matters worse, the wreckage was later struck again by another Steamer, Bransford, further ensuring that nothing of value remained.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after the collision.
• No salvage efforts recorded.
• Given the location in a navigational area, the wreck was likely cleared or scattered over time.
• No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck.  The remains were likely removed, dispersed, or deteriorated due to the shallow, high-traffic waters of the St. Clair Flats.

NOTMARs & Advisories

 The St. Clair Flats is a historically hazardous area for navigation, known for shifting channels and frequent vessel groundings or collisions.  The Flats Canal Project was a major effort to improve shipping routes, but it also saw several maritime incidents during construction.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Fannie Tuthill served for over 30 years before her violent and total destruction in a collision with the Steamer D.C. Whitney in 1905. Despite her long career, her final moments were tragic, with one life lost and her wreck further damaged by a second collision. Given her location in a heavily trafficked area, any remains have likely long since disappeared, making her one of many lost but forgotten workboats of the Great Lakes.