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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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