The Untold Story of the George N. Brady: A Tragic Tale of Fire and Loss
The Great Lakes have witnessed countless stories of bravery, adventure, and tragedy throughout their history. Among the many vessels that plied these waters, the George N. Brady stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of life on the lakes. In this blog post, we delve into the captivating history of the George N. Brady, a propeller steam tug that met a fiery end on Lake St. Clair on August 24, 1892.
Built in 1865 in Detroit, the George N. Brady was a wooden propeller steam tug with a length of 102 feet, a beam of 20 feet, and a depth of 10.8 feet. Weighing 165 gross tons and 123 net tons, this tug was a workhorse of its time, primarily engaged in towing operations on Lake St. Clair.
On that fateful day in August 1892, the George N. Brady was tasked with towing a log raft across Lake St. Clair. Accompanied by the tug Sumner, the crew set out on what seemed like a routine journey. Little did they know that this voyage would forever change their lives.
As the tug made its way across the lake, disaster struck. Flames erupted around the George N. Brady’s smokestack, quickly spreading beyond control. The crew, valiantly fighting the fire, soon realized their efforts were in vain. With heavy hearts, they made the difficult decision to abandon ship and seek refuge on the Sumner.
Cut loose from the log raft, the burning George N. Brady drifted towards the American shore, a mass of flames that illuminated the night sky. Within a short time, the tug succumbed to the fire and sank approximately three miles above Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
The loss of the George N. Brady was a devastating blow to its owners, the Howard Towing Association. The vessel, valued at $4,000, was reduced to ashes, with no hope of salvage. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in this tragic incident.
Even after its fiery demise, the wreck of the George N. Brady continued to pose a threat to navigation. The submerged remnants of the tug became a dangerous obstruction in Lake St. Clair. Vessels were warned to keep a vigilant eye out for this hidden hazard.
The story of the George N. Brady serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by those who ventured onto the Great Lakes in pursuit of commerce and adventure. While its final chapter ended in flames and tragedy, the legacy of this tug lives on, forever etched in the annals of Great Lakes maritime history.
(Note: The information presented in this blog post is based on historical records and accounts of the vessel’s history. Variations in details or additional information may exist.)
