The tug FERN, based in Algonac, foundered off Eagle River, Lake Superior, on June 29, 1901. The entire crew of five, including Captain Hemenger of Algonac, tragically lost their lives in the incident.
The wreck of the new steel steamer MORELAND on Eagle River reef highlighted the dangerous nature of the area, as it was the sixteenth shipwreck to occur there in a span of sixteen years. Among the losses on the reef were the steamer J.H. PICKANDS in 1894 and the steamer COLORADO, which was lost while the tug FERN was attempting salvage operations. The FERN itself was lost, with five crew members on board.
The FERN was a steam screw tug of 48 tons gross and 35 tons net. It was built in Algonac, Michigan, in 1882 and was registered in Port Huron, Michigan.
The high number of shipwrecks on the dangerous Eagle River reef raised concerns about the need for protection measures at the site, prompting discussions within the Lake Carriers’ Association about potential safety improvements.
