Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Active (renamed Charlie Gale in 1912, registry C130382)
- Type: Wood-hulled screw tugboat, single deck
- Year Built: 1894
- Builder: Port Clinton, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 53.3 ft (16.24 m); Beam 12 ft (3.66 m); Depth of hold 4 ft (1.22 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 13 GT / 6 NT
- Location: Pelee Island, Ontario
- Official Number: 107076
- Original Owners: Joseph M. Bell; John Fraser & Ida M. Hackett
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A coastal harbour tug suited for light towing and harbour assistance, typical of late-19th-century wooden vessels employed around Lake Erie.
Description
Compact wooden tug with a single propeller powered by a small steam engine. After her 1904 rebuild, she housed Bay State Engineering Works’ 10″ × 10″ engine—suitable for harbour operations and tow duties in calm waters.
History
- 1899: Owned by Joseph M. Bell
- 1904: Rebuilt by R. Bell & Co, Port Clinton; slightly enlarged to ~54.9 × 12.5 × 5 ft; received a 10″ × 10″ engine from Bay State Engineering Works, Erie, PA
- By 1912: Ownership transferred to John Fraser & Ida M. Hackett of Amherstburg, Ontario; vessel renamed Charlie Gale, registry C130382
- 27 Aug 1913: Caught fire and burned at Pelee Island, Ontario, in Lake Erie
- Late August 1913: Registration officially closed at Pelee Island
Significant Incidents
Significant Incident: The vessel caught fire and was destroyed while moored or at anchor off Pelee Island on 27 August 1913. The vessel was a total loss; no further salvage is recorded.
Final Disposition
Burned and destroyed while moored or at anchor off Pelee Island on 27 August 1913. The vessel was a total loss; no further salvage is recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No records indicate whether the hull was fully destroyed or partially salvaged. No submerged wreck site or archaeological survey is known.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”active-charlie-gale-us-107076″ title=”References & Links”]
The Active, later Charlie Gale, was a small wooden harbour tug, successfully serving Lake Erie coastlines for nearly two decades. After a 1904 rebuild and engine upgrade, she ended her life in a destructive fire at Pelee Island in August 1913. While records are sparse regarding the cause or salvage, her registry closure shortly after signals her last role in the Illinois–Ontario tug fleet. Her story highlights the precarious nature of steam-powered harbour craft of that era.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): Active (renamed Charlie Gale in 1912, registry C130382)
- Official number: 107076
- Year built: 1894, Port Clinton, Ohio
- Type: Wood-hulled screw tugboat, single deck
- Dimensions: 16.24 m (53.3 ft) × 3.66 m (12 ft) × 1.22 m (4 ft)
- Tonnage: 13 GT / 6 NT
Vessel Type
A coastal harbour tug suited for light towing and harbour assistance, typical of late-19th‑century wooden vessels employed around Lake Erie.
Description
Compact wooden tug with a single propeller powered by a small steam engine. After her 1904 rebuild, she housed Bay State Engineering Works’ 10″ × 10″ engine—suitable for harbour operations and tow duties in calm waters.
History & Chronology
- 1899: Owned by Joseph M. Bell
- 1904: Rebuilt by R. Bell & Co, Port Clinton; slightly enlarged to ~54.9 × 12.5 × 5 ft; received a 10″ × 10″ engine from Bay State Engineering Works, Erie, PA
- By 1912: Ownership transferred to John Fraser & Ida M. Hackett of Amherstburg, Ontario; vessel renamed Charlie Gale, registry C130382
- 27 Aug 1913: Caught fire and burned at Pelee Island, Ontario, in Lake Erie
- Late August 1913: Registration officially closed at Pelee Island
Final Disposition
Burned and destroyed while moored or at anchor off Pelee Island on 27 August 1913. The vessel was a total loss; no further salvage is recorded.
Located By & Date Found
No records indicate whether the hull was fully destroyed or partially salvaged. No submerged wreck site or archaeological survey is known.
Notmars & Advisories
None present. No known marine hazard notices or modern notices reference the former location.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Register – outlines build, rebuild, engine specifications, tonnage
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum collections – confirms rebuilt status and burning incident
- William MacDonald & C. Patrick Labadie collections – provide chronology and name change
Shore Dive Information
Not applicable. The vessel’s remains likely burned ashore or sank in shallow water; no diveable wrecksite exists.
Conclusion
The Active, later Charlie Gale, was a small wooden harbour tug, successfully serving Lake Erie coastlines for nearly two decades. After a 1904 rebuild and engine upgrade, she ended her life in a destructive fire at Pelee Island in August 1913. While records are sparse regarding the cause or salvage, her registry closure shortly after signals her last role in the Illinois–Ontario tug fleet. Her story highlights the precarious nature of steam-powered harbour craft of that era.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Wood‑hulled screw tug | Pelee Island fire | Steam harbour tug | Lake Erie marine history | Engine upgrade | Harbor towboat
Would you like me to look into local newspaper archives for eyewitness accounts of the fire or to check if any parts of the hull remain visible near Pelee Island?
active-charlie-gale-us-107076 1913-08-27 23:08:00