Schooner M.E. Tremble (1874–1890)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: M.E. Tremble
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 90745
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden three-masted Schooner, grain carrier
• Builder: Gibson, Suamico, Wisconsin
• Year Built & Launched: 1874
• Specifications:  Length: 198 ft (60.3 m)  Beam: 34 ft (10.4 m)  Depth: 13 ft (4.0 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 673 GT Net Tonnage: 658 NT
• Date Lost: September 7, 1890
• Location of Loss: Northern end of the St. Clair River, near the shipping channel
• Cause of Loss: Collision with freighter W.L. Wetmore
• Loss of Life: 1 of 6 crew members
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Coal

Vessel Description & Service History

The M.E. Tremble was a large, three-masted wooden Schooner, built in 1874 in Suamico, Wisconsin. Originally designed for grain transport, she later carried a variety of bulk cargo, including coal at the time of her sinking.  Owned by J.C. Fitzpatrick of Cleveland, Ohio, she was one of many schooners operating in the bulk freight trade on the Great Lakes.  Typically operated under tow by steam-powered vessels, which allowed large schooners to be more efficient and avoid delays due to unfavorable wind conditions. Regularly ran routes between major ports such as Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Canadian ports on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Final Voyage & Loss (September 7, 1890)

On September 7, 1890, the M.E. Tremble was upbound on the St. Clair River, under tow by the steam propeller B.W. Blanchard.  As she neared the northern end of the river, she encountered the downbound freighter W.L. Wetmore.  A miscalculation or miscommunication during passing led to the Wetmore ramming the M.E. Tremble.  The Schooner sank quickly, giving her crew little time to react.

Despite the suddenness of the sinking, five of the six crew members escaped in the vessel’s Yawl boat and were rescued by the car Ferry Huron. Unfortunately, one crew member perished in the accident.  The wreck became a navigational hazard, as she sank just west of the shipping channel.

Final Disposition & Salvage

The wreck posed a danger to shipping and was later dynamited to clear the channel. No known significant salvage operations took place before demolition. Some scattered wreckage may still exist on the riverbed.  No confirmed modern discovery of remaining wreckage.  Likely remnants exist as scattered debris near the northern end of the St. Clair River.

NOTMARs & Advisories

 The St. Clair River has long been a high-traffic area for Great Lakes shipping, making collisions relatively common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sinking of the M.E. Tremble was one of several incidents that highlighted the dangers of navigating crowded river channels.  The W.L. Wetmore survived the accident but later sank herself in Lake Superior near Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1901.

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 M.E. Tremble was a hardworking bulk cargo Schooner, lost in a tragic collision in the St. Clair River in 1890. Though most of her crew survived, the incident highlights the dangers of navigating the heavily trafficked river channels. While her remains were destroyed to clear the shipping lane, the story of her loss remains a part of Great Lakes maritime history.

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