Other Names
- U.S.Q.M.C. tug Rescue
- WALTER M. BRAMAN
- W. BRAMAN WALTERS
- W.M. BRAYMAN
History
The WATERS W. BRAMAN, previously known as the U.S.Q.M.C. tug Rescue, was a propeller steam tug that met its unfortunate end due to a fire on Lake Erie. Here are the details of its loss:
The Waters W. Braman was originally built as the U.S.Q.M.C. tug Rescue in 1858 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was constructed as a wooden vessel and initially had its home port in Port Royal, South Carolina. The tug had a tonnage of 89.
On June 26, 1867, while idling in the Passage near Pelee Island, approximately 7 miles east of the Dummy, the Waters W. Braman caught fire. The fire originated in the coal bunker area near the boilers and had already progressed significantly when it was discovered. Despite efforts to suppress the fire, they were unsuccessful, leading to the complete loss of the vessel.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life reported during the incident. It is mentioned that the Waters W. Braman was not carrying any cargo at the time of the fire.
The crew of the Waters W. Braman abandoned the vessel in their small boat and were later picked up by the propeller steamship Trader. After the fire burned out, the tug was taken in tow but ultimately left to sink near Point Pelee.
In subsequent years, efforts were made to salvage the engine and boiler of the Waters W. Braman. In 1883, it was reported that a wrecking expedition was organized to recover valuable parts of the tug’s machinery. It was believed that a significant portion of the machinery remained undamaged and could be utilized for further service.
The Waters W. Braman, originally built as the Rescue and later renamed, had a relatively short lifespan on the Great Lakes. Despite being rebuilt and brought to the lakes from New York City just five weeks before its loss, the tug met a tragic end due to the fire. Its legacy lives on as another tale of maritime history and the challenges faced by vessels and their crews on Lake Erie.
