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