Identification & Site Information

• Name: AGNES ARNOLD (originally built as BOB MILLS, renamed around 1890)
• Official Number: 2781
• Date Built and Launched: 1864
• Builder: Mills, Buffalo, New York
• Original Owner: Not documented
• Later Owners:
• Capt. James Clow, Chambers Island (most likely)
• M.J. Arnold, Marinette, Wisconsin (alternate ownership record)
• Vessel Type: Wooden steam-powered Tugboat
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power:
• Propulsion: Screw propeller (single propeller)
• Engine Type: Steam-powered
• Measurements: Length: 68 ft (20.7 m) Beam: 13 ft (4.0 m) Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 30 tons
• Net Tonnage: 15 tons

Vessel Type

The AGNES ARNOLD was a wooden steam-powered Tugboat, primarily used for towing, assisting vessels, and light freight duties on the Great Lakes, particularly in Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

Originally built as BOB MILLS in 1864, the Tug suffered severe damage in an explosion and fire in 1865, but was Rebuilt twice, once in 1865 and again in 1880.

Around 1890, the vessel was renamed AGNES ARNOLD, possibly after a change in ownership.

History

The AGNES ARNOLD had a long service life of 34 years, despite surviving an early explosion and fire.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1864: Built in Buffalo, New York, as the BOB MILLS, a steam-powered Tug.
• June 12, 1865:
• Severely damaged by an explosion and fire, almost leading to its destruction.
• The vessel was Rebuilt later that year.
• 1880: Extensively Rebuilt again, possibly upgraded for continued service.
• 1890: Renamed AGNES ARNOLD after a change in ownership.
• 1890s: Operated in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, under Capt. James Clow of Chambers Island or M.J. Arnold of Marinette, WI.

Final Disposition

The AGNES ARNOLD was lost on May 30, 1898, near Chambers Island, Green Bay, Lake Michigan.

The Disaster

• The crew had docked the vessel and were eating supper at the lighthouse on Chambers Island.
• While unattended, the vessel caught fire and burned to a Total Loss.
• The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but onboard steam boilers and coal-fueled heating systems made tugboats particularly vulnerable to fire hazards.
• No lives were lost, as the crew was ashore at the time of the fire.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the AGNES ARNOLD‘s wreck location being discovered or surveyed near Chambers Island, Green Bay, Lake Michigan.

Given that the vessel burned completely, it is likely that very little of the wreck remains intact.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Chambers Island, Green Bay.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The AGNES ARNOLD is a classic example of an early Great Lakes Tugboat, operating for over three decades before being lost to fire in 1898.

Despite surviving a major explosion in 1865, the vessel continued to serve Green Bay and Lake Michigan until its final destruction while unattended.

This incident highlights the fire hazards faced by wooden steam tugs, many of which ended their service life in similar blazes.

If you’d like to learn more about tugboats on the Great Lakes, shipwrecks near Chambers Island, or maritime disasters caused by fire, let me know!