Other Names #
- A. J. BEMIS
The A. J. BEMIS, also known as PHILO S. BEMIS, was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1859 by David Bell in Buffalo, New York. It had a tonnage of 49 tons.
On September 15, 1872, while underway on Lake Huron, the A. J. Bemis caught fire. The crew attempted to run for shore, but the tug sank three-quarters of a mile short of the coastline, approximately six miles from Alpena, Michigan. The fire originated under the boiler. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, and the tug was not carrying any cargo at the time.
The vessel’s final location was reported as three-quarters of a mile from shore near Alpena, Michigan. Salvage attempts were made, but ultimately abandoned. The A. J. Bemis was owned by Captain Harrington. The documents for the vessel were surrendered on June 30, 1879.
The tug had a history of ownership changes. It was initially owned by W.P. O’Brian of Buffalo, New York, in 1860. It was later purchased by George R. Hand of Chicago, Illinois, in May 1860. In 1863, G. Hand and J. F. Green of Cleveland, Ohio, became the owners, followed by Greene of Cleveland in 1866. On October 2, 1866, E.M. Harrington of Cleveland took ownership of the tug. Subsequently, E.M. Harrington of Bay City, Michigan, and later Alpena, Michigan, retained ownership.
Despite the fire and sinking in 1872, the A. J. Bemis was apparently raised, rebuilt, and returned to service. However, it was eventually abandoned in 1879.
