Built in 1863 by I. Lafrinier in Cleveland as a tug named Maria Love, the vessel later gained notoriety as the Clematis after being renamed in 1864. With an official number of 5396 and measuring 179 tons, Clematis faced a fateful end on May 21, 1883, in the treacherous waters of Lake Huron.
Under the ownership of Charles Chamberlain in Detroit, CLEMATIS was reduced from a tug to a barge in 1881. Laden with lumber, she was caught in a fierce storm that shattered the vessel into two parts, marking the tragic culmination of her maritime journey. Fortunately, the crew managed to escape in her yawl boat, reaching the safety of the shore just as the tug Champion arrived to offer assistance. Unfortunately, Clematis disintegrated before any salvage efforts could be undertaken.
Her stern washed ashore near the head of the St. Clair River, serving as a solemn reminder of the disaster that befell the schooner-barge. The loss of Clematis was attributed to the forces of nature, as the storm proved too overwhelming for the vessel to withstand.
Clematis had a history of transformations, from being purchased by the U.S. Navy during the Civil War to serving as a tug and eventually being converted into a barge. Her varied roles and years of service on the Great Lakes came to an abrupt and tragic end on that ill-fated day in 1883.
While no lives were lost in this incident, the story of Clematis stands as a testament to the unpredictable and perilous conditions that sailors faced on the Great Lakes, where even seemingly sturdy vessels could fall victim to the forces of nature.
