Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ADMIRAL
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: Miller Bros., Chicago, Illinois
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 49 tons; Net Tonnage: 24 tons
- Location: Chicago River near 22nd Street (now Cermak Road), Chicago, Illinois
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: 106156
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steam tug.
Description
The ADMIRAL was a small but powerful wooden steam tug built in 1883 by Miller Bros. in Chicago, Illinois. With a gross tonnage of 49 tons and net tonnage of 24 tons, the vessel was designed for harbour and towing operations, typical of the bustling industrial waterways in and around Chicago during the late 19th century. The ADMIRAL was primarily tasked with manoeuvring barges and other vessels through the busy and often congested Chicago River.
History
The ADMIRAL operated out of Chicago, a hub of Great Lakes maritime commerce, during an era when steam-powered tugs were vital to managing the ever-increasing volume of shipping traffic in the city’s waterways. On December 31, 1884, while assisting in docking the barge D. M. WILSON on the Chicago River near 22nd Street (modern-day Cermak Road), tragedy struck. The tug’s boiler suddenly exploded, causing catastrophic damage. The explosion was so powerful that it scattered pieces of the tug and the remains of her crew across the nearby lumber docks.
Reports of the incident noted the complete destruction of the vessel and the devastating loss of life. Estimates of the number of fatalities range from three to five, with all hands on board perishing in the explosion. The ADMIRAL was under the command of Captain Andrew Green(d) at the time of the disaster. Such boiler explosions were, unfortunately, not uncommon during this period, often resulting from poor maintenance, faulty equipment, or over-pressurization.
Significant Incidents
- Boiler explosion on December 31, 1884, resulting in the destruction of the vessel.
- Fatalities estimated between three to five, with all hands on board perishing.
Final Disposition
Destroyed in a boiler explosion; debris scattered along the Chicago River lumber docks.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil (No records of the wreck’s recovery or exact location being marked).
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”admiral-us-105156″ title=”References & Links”]
The brief operational life of the ADMIRAL highlights the dangers faced by steam-powered vessels in the late 19th century, especially in industrial hubs like Chicago. Her catastrophic loss due to a boiler explosion underscores the risks inherent in early steam navigation and remains a somber chapter in the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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