History #
In the late 19th century, the waters of Lake Superior posed numerous challenges for sailors and their vessels. Among the unfortunate victims of this unforgiving lake was the propeller steam tug, Bob Anderson. Join us as we delve into the story of the Bob Anderson, a wood-built rafting tug that met its fiery end off Grand Marais, Minnesota on July 29, 1899.
Built in 1862 by Ira Lafrinier in Cleveland, Ohio, the Bob Anderson was originally owned by H. J. & R. K. Winslow of Cleveland. Measuring 101 feet in length, 19 feet in width, and 11 feet in depth, this wood-built tug boasted a tonnage of 118 gross tons and 60 net tons. Powered by a high-pressure steam engine with a horsepower of 375, the Bob Anderson was a formidable presence on Lake Superior.
Over the years, the Bob Anderson changed ownership several times and served various purposes, including towing rafts and assisting other vessels. It weathered incidents such as cylinder head breakage on the St. Clair River and damage on Lake Huron, demonstrating its resilience in the face of adversity.
On that fateful day, July 29, 1899, the Bob Anderson was towing a large raft of sawlogs when disaster struck. Engulfed in flames off Grand Marais, the tugboat burned to the waterline, leaving only charred remains. Miraculously, no lives were lost in the incident as the crew was rescued from the shore by canoe. The nearby tug Mystic towed the burning vessel to deeper waters, where it ultimately sank.
Before its fiery end, the Bob Anderson was reportedly left sunken in Springwells, Michigan for many years, alongside the tug L. L. Lyon. However, prior to 1897, efforts were made to resurrect the tugboat.
