Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Dispatch (Col. Woodward) US 202019

Explore the remains of the Dispatch, a converted steam tug lost to fire in 1931 on the St. Marys River.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Dispatch (formerly Col. Woodward)
  • Type: Propeller Steam Tug
  • Year Built: 1905
  • Builder: J. Poilot
  • Dimensions: approx. 49 ft × 12 ft × 4 ft; gross tonnage 14 GRT, net 11 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 14 GRT
  • Location: St. Marys River, Lake Huron
  • Official Number: 202019

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Gas-screw wood-hulled passenger/excursion yacht → converted to steam tug

Hull: Wooden

Description

Originally built as a luxury yacht (“Col. Woodward”), this compact vessel was repurposed in 1914 into the steam tug Dispatch. She retained her wood hull and small craft profile, achieving modest towing power suitable for short trips or utility work on Lake Huron’s waterways.

History

  • 1905: Built by J. Poilot in Sandusky, Ohio, as Col. Woodward (gas yacht)
  • 1913: Sank during the Big Storm in Sandusky Bay; subsequently rebuilt
  • 1914: Renamed Dispatch, entered service as steam tug
  • 1914–1931: Regular operation on St. Marys River and off-shore towing duties (details scarce)

Significant Incidents

On May 6, 1931, Dispatch caught fire in the St. Marys River. The blaze consumed the vessel, burning her to the waterline. No loss of life was recorded. She was declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

There is no documented discovery of the exact wreck location; it remains unlocated. As a wooden tug burned to the waterline, typical remains would include submerged hull structure, engine machinery, and possibly boiler components, but visibility of the site and diving conditions are undocumented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Not recorded in Notices to Mariners. No hazard buoys or permanent charted warnings known.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”dispatch-col-woodward-us-202019″ title=”References & Links”]

Dispatch exemplifies early 20th-century tug evolution on the Great Lakes—converted from yacht to workboat, meeting her end via boiler/lamp-related fire in the strategic yet hazardous corridor of the St. Marys River. Despite her modest size, documenting her loss fills gaps in local maritime history and could pave the way for future archaeological discovery.

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.

Dispatch (formerly Col. Woodward) – Propeller Steam Tug SC 202019 (built 1905)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Vessel Type & Construction

  • Type: Gas-screw wood-hulled passenger/excursion yacht → converted to steam tug
  • Hull: Wooden
  • Dimensions: approx. 49 ft × 12 ft × 4 ft; gross tonnage 14 GRT, net 11 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Description

Originally built as a luxury yacht (“Col. Woodward”), this compact vessel was repurposed in 1914 into the steam tug Dispatch. She retained her wood hull and small craft profile, achieving modest towing power suitable for short trips or utility work on Lake Huron’s waterways.

History & Operational Record

  • 1905: Built by J. Poilot in Sandusky, Ohio, as Col. Woodward (gas yacht) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • 1913: Sank during the Big Storm in Sandusky Bay; subsequently rebuilt (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • 1914: Renamed Dispatch, entered service as steam tug
  • 1914–1931: Regular operation on St. Marys River and off-shore towing duties (details scarce)

Circumstances of Loss

On May 6, 1931, Dispatch caught fire in the St. Marys River. The blaze consumed the vessel, burning her to the waterline. No loss of life was recorded. She was declared a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Location & Site Condition

  • Unknown wreck site: There is no documented discovery of the exact wreck location; it remains unlocated.
  • As a wooden tug burned to the waterline, typical remains would include submerged hull structure, engine machinery, and possibly boiler components, but visibility of the site and diving conditions are undocumented.

Notmars & Advisories

  • Not recorded in Notices to Mariners.
  • No hazard buoys or permanent charted warnings known.

Sources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – D: confirms identity, construction, and loss details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • HCGL (Bowling Green State University): registry and vessel data via standard GL database
  • Local shipping news archives (Sandusky & Sault-area notices, 1931): likely mention fire, though not digitized in this search

Research Gaps

  • Precise sinking coordinates are unknown.
  • No survivor or crew accounts are currently cited.
  • Archival newspapers (Sandusky Register, Sault Daily Star, or Soo Evening News) may report the incident.
  • USCG or similar vessel fire survey reports (1931) could yield salvage or fire origin data.

Next‑Step Recommendations

  • Newspaper archives (local 1931 editions) for eyewitness or crew statements.
  • USCG/Army Corps records for fire inspection reports.
  • Maritime museum / Sault St. Marie archives for photo or registry record access.
  • On-site survey: focusing near known moorings or docks used in 1931, employing magnetometer or sonar to locate remains.

Conclusion

Dispatch exemplifies early 20th-century tug evolution on the Great Lakes—converted from yacht to workboat, meeting her end via boiler/lamp-related fire in the strategic yet hazardous corridor of the St. Marys River. Despite her modest size, documenting her loss fills gaps in local maritime history and could pave the way for future archaeological discovery

Keywords

Lake Huron · St. Marys River · wooden steam tug · fire wreck · Col. Woodward · 1931 loss · excursion yacht conversion

dispatch-col-woodward-us-202019 1931-05-06 12:07:00