Other Names #
- Music 1874
Site Description #
- Tug
- 225ffw 40m
- 125ft Lengths
- Black River MI, Lake Huron
History #
In 1874, the ACME, originally built as the MUSIC, was enrolled at Detroit, MI, with the purpose of operating on the Petoskey & Mackinac route, offering accommodations for 75 first-class passengers. Ownership of the vessel changed over the years, with Mitchell & Boutell of Bay City, MI, assuming ownership in 1875 for towing on rivers. Subsequently, William Mitchell of Bay City took ownership on February 23, 1866, with the ACME weighing 320.46 gross tons and 234.06 net tons.
In April 1887, the ACME was owned by W.G. Van Auken et al of Saginaw, MI, followed by James Reid of St. Ignace, MI, in May 1888. On April 12, 1889, R.A. Loveland of East Saginaw took ownership, and during this period, the ACME towed the barge WAHNIPITOE in the Duluth & Tonawanda lumber trade. In March 1892, the vessel underwent significant rebuilding and re-engineering in Bay City, MI.
By July 22, 1892, the ACME had changed ownership to the Michigan Log Towing Company of Saginaw and was renamed accordingly. Tragically, on October 14, 1893, the ACME foundered in Lake Huron, approximately 25 miles from Black River, MI. The vessel, a large propeller tug and freighter made of wood, was carrying a log raft at the time. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the incident.
Details surrounding the sinking reveal that the ACME was towing the log raft alongside the tug RELIANCE, intending to seek shelter at Thunder Bay. However, the ACME met its demise and began sinking. The crew of the RELIANCE performed a daring and risky rescue, successfully evacuating the crew from the sinking ACME. The vessel now rests in approximately 225 feet of water. The ACME was owned by the Michigan Log Towing Company of Bay City and had previously served as a Reid Wrecking tug. The master of the ACME was Captain Dore Elliott from West Bay City.
The ACME experienced major repairs in 1881, highlighting its active history and the challenges faced by vessels operating on the Great Lakes. The loss of the ACME was part of a series of maritime tragedies during that period, as evidenced by reports of other vessels stranded or lost in the same storm.
The historical accounts mention several vessels affected by the storm, including the MINNEHAHA, which ran aground near Manistee, resulting in six deaths and the rapid destruction of the vessel. The barge J.D. SAWYER was also presumed lost after being cut adrift by the B.W. ARNOLD. The steamer DEAN RICHMOND sank off Dunkirk, N.Y., causing the loss of eighteen lives. Numerous other vessels, including the HECLA, J.C. MARTIN, MORTON, CASTALIA, E.P. CURTIS, ISABEL REED, T.S. FASSET, NELSON HOLLAND, CRAWFORD, YUKON, KNIGHT TEMPLAR, and SWEEPSTAKES, suffered damages or ran aground.
An intriguing aspect related to the ACME’s sinking is the discovery of its vessel book. A month after the incident, the book surfaced in Black Rock harbor, still intact despite being wet and misshapen. The book contained records of receipts, disbursements, towing accounts, and shipping articles of the ACME, with the last entry made on October 8. The owner, R.H. Roys of Sagin
