Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Crusader
- Type: Wooden tug (later used for wreck removal operations)
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Estimated at 100–150 ft
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: At Spry’s Dock near Sault Ste. Marie
- Original Owners: Owned by Grummond of Detroit; stationed at the Soo for salvage and wrecking duties
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden steam tug converted for wrecking operations—a workhorse used for fire suppression, wreck recovery, and salvage work around the St. Marys Rapids and Sault Ste. Marie area.
Description
Originally built in 1874, Crusader served through two decades of towing and wrecking chores. On 6 November 1894, she was tied to Spry’s dock when a fire broke out onboard early in the morning. Firemen Henry Billings (Sault Ste. Marie, MI) and Charles Whissmen (Port Huron, ON) were asleep in their bunks and could not escape, tragically perishing. The blaze also consumed P. Moran’s nearby pile-driver, compounding the waterfront devastation.
History
The rapidly spreading fire destroyed the tug and adjacent equipment. Crusader burned to a total loss and sank at the dock.
Significant Incidents
- 6 November 1894: Fire breaks out on board, resulting in the loss of two crew members.
Final Disposition
The remains lie submerged at Spry’s original ferry dock, now part of Sault Ste. Marie’s industrial waterfront. No modern dive or historical recovery has taken place.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No navigational risk remains from the wreck. The area has been redeveloped over the years. Memorials for the two lost crew members may exist in local fire or tugboat heritage collections.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”crusader-1864″ title=”References & Links”]
Crusader, a steam tug built in 1874, served in salvage and wrecking at Sault Ste. Marie until 6 November 1894, when she was consumed by fire at Spry’s dock. Two crew members—Billings and Whissmen—died onboard, and the vessel sank in place. The wreck remains submerged but lies undisturbed in industrial waters. Local heritage archives might hold memorial or technical records related to the incident.
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: Crusader
- Built: 1874
- Vessel Type: Wooden tug (later used for wreck removal operations)
- Dimensions & Tonnage: Not recorded (estimated at 100–150 ft)
- Final Loss: 6 November 1894
- Location: At Spry’s Dock near Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Huron
- Casualties: 2 crew members lost in the fire, others narrowly escaped
- Ownership: Owned by Grummond of Detroit; stationed at the Soo for salvage and wrecking duties
Vessel Type
A wooden steam tug converted for wrecking operations—a workhorse used for fire suppression, wreck recovery, and salvage work around the St. Marys Rapids and Sault Ste. Marie area.
History & Final Voyage
Originally built in 1874, Crusader served through two decades of towing and wrecking chores. On 6 November 1894, she was tied to Spry’s dock when a fire broke out onboard early in the morning. Firemen Henry Billings (Sault Ste. Marie, MI) and Charles Whissmen (Port Huron, ON) were asleep in their bunks and could not escape, tragically perishing. The blaze also consumed P. Moran’s nearby pile-driver, compounding the waterfront devastation (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, marshcollection.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
The rapidly spreading fire destroyed the tug and adjacent equipment. Crusader burned to a total loss and sank at the dock.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. The remains lie submerged at Spry’s original ferry dock, now part of Sault Ste. Marie’s industrial waterfront. No modern dive or historical recovery has taken place.
Notations & Advisories
No navigational risk remains from the wreck. The area has been redeveloped over the years. Memorials for the two lost crew members may exist in local fire or tugboat heritage collections.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files account of the fire, loss of two crew, and destruction of the pile-driver (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
Crusader, a steam tug built in 1874, served in salvage and wrecking at Sault Ste. Marie until 6 November 1894, when she was consumed by fire at Spry’s dock. Two crew members—Billings and Whissmen—died onboard, and the vessel sank in place. The wreck remains submerged but lies undisturbed in industrial waters. Local heritage archives might hold memorial or technical records related to the incident.
crusader-1864 1894-11-06 11:51:00