The propeller tug T. M. BRADLEY was built in 1878 by Bates in Chicago. It had an official number of 145172 and weighed 12 tons. The vessel was based in Cheboygan, Michigan, and owned by Smith Brothers.
On September 4, 1884, while nearing its destination for a dredging operation, the T. M. BRADLEY encountered heavy weather and developed a leak. The vessel’s fires were extinguished, and it started to sink. To save the crew, the tug was intentionally run ashore near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River on Lake Superior. Fortunately, all six crew members made it safely ashore.
The T. M. BRADLEY was unable to be salvaged and was deemed a total loss. It is reported that the hull loss amounted to $4,000, with no insurance coverage. The vessel was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident.
Please note that the available information is based on historical records, and there may be additional details or variations in the accounts of the vessel’s history and the circumstances of its loss.
