Identification & Site Information

• Name: SACHEM
• Former Names: JOHN KELDERHOUSE (1907–1911), DEREK E. (post-1990)
• Official Number: 204106
• Date Built & Launched: Built in 1907
• Builder: B.T. Cowles, Buffalo, New York
• Original Owner: Likely private/commercial Tug operator before later ownership by Dunbar & Sullivan Dredging Company, Buffalo, NY
• Registration Number(s): 204106
• Measurements:  Length: 72 ft (21.95 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.10 m) Depth: 11 ft (3.35 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 100 tons
• Net Tonnage: 70 tons
• Date Lost: December 18, 1950
• Final Location: Off Dunkirk, New York, Lake Erie

Vessel Type

The SACHEM was a steel-hulled propeller tug, originally built as a steam-powered vessel and later converted to Diesel propulsion in 1950, the same year as its sinking.

Description

Constructed in 1907 by B.T. Cowles of Buffalo, New York, the Tug was a robust steel vessel designed for heavy-duty towing and ice-breaking operations, common tasks for tugs operating in the challenging environments of the Great Lakes. Measuring 72 feet in length, with a 20-foot beam and an 11-foot depth, she had a Gross Tonnage of 100 tons. The Tug operated under several names throughout her service life: initially as JOHN KELDERHOUSE, then SACHEM after 1911, and eventually DEREK E. after her reconditioning post-1990.

History

The vessel’s early history as JOHN KELDERHOUSE is not extensively documented, but it served effectively as a tugboat in the busy port regions around Buffalo. In 1911, she was renamed SACHEM, a name she carried for nearly eight decades. Her role as an ice-breaking Tug was vital on the Great Lakes, especially given the seasonal freeze conditions that could impede commercial navigation.

By the mid-20th century, the SACHEM was owned by the Dunbar & Sullivan Dredging Company of Buffalo, a company involved in extensive marine construction and dredging projects across the Great Lakes region. In 1950, she underwent a significant Conversion from steam to Diesel propulsion, reflecting the broader maritime trend towards more efficient and reliable Diesel engines.

Final Disposition

On December 18, 1950, while engaged in ice-breaking operations off Dunkirk, New York, on Lake Erie, the SACHEM met a tragic fate. Crew members aboard the nearby sand Dredge NIAGARA reported that the Tug was attempting to navigate through thick ice when she rode up onto an ice sheet. Her Stern dipped dangerously low in the water, and as the ice gave way beneath her, the Tug slid backward and rapidly sank Stern-first. Tragically, all 12 crew members aboard perished in the incident.

When the vessel was recovered the following year, it was found to be in nearly perfect condition, a testament to its solid steel construction. After recovery, the Tug was reconditioned and eventually returned to service. By 1990, she was operating out of Cleveland under the name DEREK E., owned by Egan Marine Corporation of Lemont, Illinois, and active on the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal.

Located By & Date Found

The SACHEM was located and recovered in 1951, less than a year after her sinking.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current notices to mariners (NOTMARs) or navigational advisories are associated with the former wreck site off Dunkirk, New York. The wreck was fully recovered and no longer poses an obstruction.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Tugboat Enthusiast Society archives for images of DEREK E.
• Wikipedia – Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal.

Conclusion

The SACHEM’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Despite the tragic loss in 1950, the Tug’s recovery and subsequent return to service underscore the durability of early 20th-century maritime engineering. Its evolution from JOHN KELDERHOUSE to SACHEM, and later DEREK E., reflects the changing needs of Great Lakes maritime operations over the decades. Today, its legacy lives on through its continued operation under Egan Marine Corporation, a rare example of a vessel with over a century of active service history.