Identification & Site Information

• Name: ADMIRAL
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 106156
• Date Built and Launched: 1883
• Builder: Miller Bros., Chicago, Illinois
• Measurements:
  • Gross Tonnage: 49 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 24 tons
• Date Lost: December 31, 1884
• Place of Loss: Chicago River near 22nd Street (now Cermak Road), Chicago, Illinois
• Lake: Lake Michigan

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller steam Tug.

Description

The ADMIRAL was a small but powerful wooden steam Tug built in 1883 by Miller Bros. in Chicago, Illinois. With a Gross Tonnage of 49 tons and Net Tonnage of 24 tons, the vessel was designed for harbour and towing operations, typical of the bustling industrial waterways in and around Chicago during the late 19th century. The ADMIRAL was primarily tasked with manoeuvring barges and other vessels through the busy and often congested Chicago River.

History

The ADMIRAL operated out of Chicago, a hub of Great Lakes maritime commerce, during an era when steam-powered tugs were vital to managing the ever-increasing volume of shipping traffic in the city’s waterways. On December 31, 1884, while assisting in docking the Barge D. M. WILSON on the Chicago River near 22nd Street (modern-day Cermak Road), tragedy struck. The Tug’s boiler suddenly exploded, causing catastrophic damage. The explosion was so powerful that it scattered pieces of the Tug and the remains of her crew across the nearby lumber docks.

Reports of the incident noted the complete destruction of the vessel and the devastating loss of life. Estimates of the number of fatalities range from three to five, with all hands on board perishing in the explosion. The ADMIRAL was under the command of Captain Andrew Green(d) at the time of the disaster. Such boiler explosions were, unfortunately, not uncommon during this period, often resulting from poor maintenance, faulty equipment, or over-pressurization.

Final Disposition

Destroyed in a boiler explosion; debris scattered along the Chicago River lumber docks.

Located By & Date Found

Nil (No records of the wreck’s recovery or exact location being marked).

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil (No current advisories or obstructions noted in the area related to this incident).

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks

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Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: ADMIRAL steam Tug, Chicago River shipwreck, boiler explosion Tug, Lake Michigan maritime disasters, 19th-century Tugboat explosion
• Categories: Shipwrecks of the Chicago River, Maritime Disasters in Lake Michigan, Steam Tug Explosions, Industrial Maritime Accidents
• Glossary Terms:
• Propeller Steam Tug: A small, steam-powered vessel designed for towing and manoeuvring larger ships, especially in harbour settings.
• Boiler Explosion: A sudden and violent rupture of a steam boiler, often caused by overpressure or mechanical failure, frequently resulting in severe structural damage and loss of life.
• Gross Tonnage: The total internal volume of a vessel, including all enclosed spaces.
• Net Tonnage: The volume of the cargo-carrying spaces of the vessel.

Conclusion

The brief operational life of the ADMIRAL highlights the dangers faced by steam-powered vessels in the late 19th century, especially in industrial hubs like Chicago. Her catastrophic loss due to a boiler explosion underscores the risks inherent in early steam navigation and remains a somber chapter in the Maritime History of the Great Lakes.