Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fred and Will
- Type: Tugboat
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: S. Carroll, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 10.18
- Location: Off Sand Island, Apostle Islands Group, Lake Superior
- Official Number: 9719
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden tugboat (towboat), typical of post-Civil War era utility craft used for harbor towing, assistance, and light cargo duties throughout the Great Lakes.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Tonnage (Gross): 10.18
- Decks: 1
- Builder: S. Carroll, Buffalo, NY
This small-capacity wooden tug was built for light-duty service and was not unusually rigged or mechanically complex beyond her boiler-powered screw propulsion.
History
- 1867, August: Capsized at Buffalo on Lake Erie shortly after construction; later recovered and returned to service.
- 1878, October 14: While operating in Lake Superior, the tug suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion and was completely wrecked by fire. The incident occurred between York and Sand Islands within the Apostle Islands archipelago.
- Survivors: All three crew members escaped by swimming ashore.
Significant Incidents
- Boiler explosion leading to fire and complete wreckage.
Final Disposition
Completely destroyed by fire following a boiler explosion. The remains of the vessel sank near the Apostle Islands (Sand Island vicinity). Not documented as salvaged or located in modern times.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known rediscovery or underwater documentation has been made public. The wreck remains unconfirmed on charts and has not been registered in NOAA or local archaeological databases as located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”fred-and-will-us-9719″ title=”References & Links”]
Fred and Will was a typical example of the many small wooden tugboats that supported larger commercial operations on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Its loss highlights the dangers of early steam technology, especially in remote and rugged locations like the Apostle Islands. Though minor in tonnage, its wreck adds to the maritime story of Lake Superior’s dangerous western shore.
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(s): Fred and Will
- Official Number: 9719
- Year Built: 1867
- Built At: Buffalo, New York
- Final Location: Off Sand Island, Apostle Islands Group, Lake Superior
- Date Lost: 14 October 1878
- How Lost: Boiler explosion, burned and wrecked
Vessel Type
Wooden tugboat (towboat), typical of post-Civil War era utility craft used for harbor towing, assistance, and light cargo duties throughout the Great Lakes.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Tonnage (Gross): 10.18
- Decks: 1
- Builder: S. Carroll, Buffalo, NY
This small-capacity wooden tug was built for light-duty service and was not unusually rigged or mechanically complex beyond her boiler-powered screw propulsion.
History
- 1867, August: Capsized at Buffalo on Lake Erie shortly after construction; later recovered and returned to service.
- 1878, October 14: While operating in Lake Superior, the tug suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion and was completely wrecked by fire. The incident occurred between York and Sand Islands within the Apostle Islands archipelago.
- Survivors: All three crew members escaped by swimming ashore.
Final Disposition
Completely destroyed by fire following a boiler explosion. The remains of the vessel sank near the Apostle Islands (Sand Island vicinity). Not documented as salvaged or located in modern times.
Located By & Date Found
No known rediscovery or underwater documentation has been made public. The wreck remains unconfirmed on charts and has not been registered in NOAA or local archaeological databases as located.
Notmar & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
Conclusion
Fred and Will was a typical example of the many small wooden tugboats that supported larger commercial operations on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Its loss highlights the dangers of early steam technology, especially in remote and rugged locations like the Apostle Islands. Though minor in tonnage, its wreck adds to the maritime story of Lake Superior’s dangerous western shore.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: tug, boiler explosion, Lake Superior, Apostles, wooden hull, 19th century, Sand Island, York Island
- Categories: Great Lakes tugboats, steam towboats, Lake Superior wrecks, 1800s maritime history
- Glossary:
- Boiler Explosion: A catastrophic failure of a steam boiler, often fatal and a common risk in 19th-century vessels.
- Gross Tonnage: Measurement of total internal volume of a vessel.