Identification & Site Information

• Name: Eileen G.
• Former Names: Blossom (after salvage), Scottish Thistle (unregistered)
• Registration Number: C.190222
• Date Built: 1944
• Builder: Unknown (built for McFadden Lumber Co., Ltd., Blind River, Ontario)
• Length: Approximately 11 m (36 ft)
• Beam: Approximately 3 m (10 ft)
• Tonnage: 9.53 tons
• Propulsion: Diesel-powered Tug
• Date Lost: May 9, 1955
• Location: Tunnel Lake, near Rayner Dam, north of Thessalon, Ontario (Hydro Commission site)
• Coordinates: Approx. 46°28′N, 83°27′W
• Depth of Wreck: Shallow site (exact depth not recorded, presumed within 10-15 m or 33-50 ft range)
• Vessel Type Russell Tug (Small work Tug designed for lumber operations and nearshore service)

Description

The Eileen G. was a small diesel Tug, purpose-built for use by McFadden Lumber Co., Ltd., in Blind River, Ontario. Vessels like this were common workhorses in the lumber industry across northern Ontario, used to tow log booms, assist barges, and transport materials between work sites, camps, and mills.

History

The Eileen G. operated primarily in the northern Lake Huron watershed, particularly in the Blind River–Thessalon region, supporting the booming post-war lumber trade. By 1955, she had become a regular sight at Tunnel Lake, assisting with operations related to the Ontario Hydro Commission’s Rayner Dam, where logging and hydroelectric work overlapped.

On May 9, 1955, tragedy struck when the Eileen G. suddenly Foundered and sank in Tunnel Lake near the dam. The cause of the sinking remains uncertain, but small tugs like the Eileen G. were often vulnerable to sudden flooding, mechanical failure, or being overpowered by currents near dam spillways.

Three men were aboard when the Tug went down:

• Ted Thompson (Blind River) — Lost
• Alex McKinnon (Blind River) — Lost
• Johnny Anderson (Blind River) — Sole Survivor

Anderson managed to escape the sinking Tug, but both Thompson and McKinnon drowned in the incident.

The loss of Eileen G. was covered in multiple newspapers, including the Port Arthur Daily Times Journal, which reported the incident under the stark headline: “Two Men Drown When Tug Sinks.”

Final Disposition

The Eileen G. was subsequently raised by local salvager Harry Gamble. Following her recovery, she was renamed Blossom, though she was never formally re-registered under that name. At a later point, she was renamed once more to Scottish Thistle, but again, this name was never officially registered.

Her current fate and location are uncertain. Some local records suggest she may have been scrapped after her service ended, while others suggest she was Abandoned at an unknown dock or shoreline site after her working career concluded.

Located By & Date Found

• Original sinking: May 9, 1955
• Raised By: Harry Gamble (1955)
• Current location: Unconfirmed — likely scrapped or Abandoned, though parts of the vessel may remain at Tunnel Lake or in nearby logging yards.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no active NOTMARs related to the Eileen G.’s wreck site today.

Tunnel Lake itself is part of a hydro control zone, and divers should follow any applicable Ontario Hydro safety advisories if diving in the area.

The wreck’s original location (Tunnel Lake) is inland and not navigable by larger vessels, meaning it does not present a current navigation hazard.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Shipping Casualties Resulting in Total Loss On The Great Lakes (1870-1970) by A. Winkelmann
• Port Arthur Daily Times Journal, May 9, 1955
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks (local archives may hold further records)

Conclusion

The Eileen G. exemplifies the working heritage of northern Ontario’s inland waterways, where small tugs like her were the unsung heroes of the logging and hydro industries. Her loss highlights the everyday dangers faced by working crews in remote areas — and her brief second life as Blossom and Scottish Thistle adds to her mystique as a ship with three names and one tragic legacy.

Though not a classic Great Lakes wreck, the story of Eileen G. belongs firmly within the broader history of Ontario’s maritime industries, and stands as a reminder that even small boats carried big stories.

Keywords & Categories Eileen G., Tunnel Lake, Blind River, Thessalon, Rayner Dam, Ontario Tugs, Russell Tug, McFadden Lumber Co., Inland Shipwrecks, Logging Industry, Hydro Commission Workboats, Ontario Shipwreck History