Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Alfred P. Wright
- Type: Propeller Steam Tug (Wooden Hull)
- Year Built: 1877
- Builder: G. Notter, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Unknown (likely between 50–80 ft); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 56 gross tons; 29 net tons
- Location: Manistee Harbor, Manistee, Michigan
- Official Number: 105722
- Original Owners: Lewis Sands (Operated in Manistee, Michigan)
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Alfred P. Wright was a wooden steam tug designed for towing schooners and other vessels into and out of harbors, playing a crucial role in the Great Lakes lumber and shipping industries.
Description
The Alfred P. Wright operated out of Manistee, Michigan, assisting schooners carrying lumber and other bulk goods in and out of Manistee Harbour. Built to handle rough harbor conditions and strong lake winds, she was small but powerful.
History
The Alfred P. Wright was built in 1877 by G. Notter in Buffalo, New York. On November 29, 1886, a severe blizzard and gale struck Manistee, creating treacherous conditions for vessels in the harbor.
Significant Incidents
- The Alfred P. Wright was towing the schooner A.J. Dewey when her towline parted, causing her propeller to foul and rendering her unmanageable.
- The tug capsized in the freezing harbor waters, forcing the crew to cling to the overturned hull.
- One crewman swam 1,000 feet to shore to seek help, leading to the rescue of the crew by the U.S. Lifesaving Service.
- Three lifesavers perished while attempting to rescue the crew of the A.J. Dewey.
Final Disposition
After capsizing, the Alfred P. Wright drifted ashore and was broken apart by the storm. The vessel was a total loss and was never rebuilt.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck likely broke up and scattered due to waves and shifting sands. Some remnants may still exist near the harbor entrance or buried in the sandy bottom, but major structural elements are unlikely to remain intact.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”alfred-p-wright-c-105722″ title=”References & Links”]
The Alfred P. Wright was a hardworking harbor tug that met a tragic end in a blizzard on November 29, 1886. Her crew miraculously survived, but the incident remains a somber chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.
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