History #
The C.W. Armstrong was a propeller steam tug built in 1856 in Albany, NY. She had the official number 5219 and was primarily used for towing purposes. The tug was constructed with wood and had the dimensions 57 feet in length, 14 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth. It had a tonnage of 33 tons.
The C.W. Armstrong met its demise on November 21, 1870, in the Saginaw River at Bay City, located in Lake Huron. The cause of its loss was a fire that broke out while the tug was docked. The fire originated from an escaped boiler fire. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported.
It is worth noting that the C.W. Armstrong had a previous incident in June 1856, where its boiler exploded near Erie, PA. One crew member lost their life in that incident. However, the tug was later repaired and returned to service.
There is mention of another burning incident in January 1879, but it is unclear whether it refers to the C.W. Armstrong or another vessel with a similar name. The tug may have been recovered after the initial fire in 1870 and then burned again in 1879.
Throughout its history, the ownership of the C.W. Armstrong changed hands several times. Some of the known owners include M.B. Kean of Detroit, MI, W.C. Roberts of Cottrellville, MI, Duncan McGregor of Algonac, MI, and C.M. Little of East Saginaw, MI.
In May 1879, the documents for the C.W. Armstrong were surrendered at Port Huron, MI, indicating the end of its active service.
