Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George E.
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder: Thomas Dagwell
- Dimensions: 47 × 11 × 5 ft; Gross 16 GRT / Net 12 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 16 GRT / 12 NRT
- Location: Cedarville, Michigan, Les Cheneaux Islands
- Official Number: 86430
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug intended for towing and harbor/shore assistance operations in the Upper Great Lakes.
Description
A basic wooden-propeller tug with a single deck housing a coal-fired boiler, steam engine room, and small pilothouse. Hull likely constructed from durable white pine or oak. No cargo capacity—designed for service and utility tasks.
History
Operated by a local or regional towing concern out of Cedarville, MI, within the Straits of Mackinac region. Likely engaged in harbor assistance, towing barges, and ice/navigation support.
Significant Incidents
- Date & Location: 30 Oct 1909, Cedarville, Michigan, Les Cheneaux Islands, Lake Huron
- Cause: Destroyed by fire while docked or near harbor—no reported cargo
- Casualties: Status unknown; no loss of life recorded in summary; likely crew evacuated or ashore.
Final Disposition
Burned to a total loss; presumably scrapped in place or the burnt hull removed. No further records indicating salvage or rebuilding.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no record of wreck discovery or diving surveys. Wreck likely destroyed or salvaged soon after; site probably cleared to prevent navigation hazards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-e-us-86430″ title=”References & Links”]
George E. represents the many small, hardworking steam tugs that served the Great Lakes’ regional waterways and harbors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its loss by fire in Cedarville in October 1909 likely had limited operational impact but would have been felt locally. While the vessel itself is no longer available for study, its service life reflects the everyday maritime operations vital to Great Lakes commerce and navigation.
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: George E.
- Official No.: 86430 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type / Build: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug; built 1892 by Thomas Dagwell at Indian River, Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Dimensions: 47 × 11 × 5 ft; Gross 16 GRT / Net 12 NRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Home Port: Cedarville, Michigan (Straits of Mackinac) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type
A small wooden steam tug intended for towing and harbor/shore assistance operations in the Upper Great Lakes.
Description
A basic wooden-propeller tug with a single deck housing a coal-fired boiler, steam engine room, and small pilothouse. Hull likely constructed from durable white pine or oak. No cargo capacity—designed for service and utility tasks.
History
Operated by a local or regional towing concern out of Cedarville, MI, within the Straits of Mackinac region. Likely engaged in harbor assistance, towing barges, and ice/navigation support.
Final Loss (Fire: 30 October 1909)
- Date & Location: 30 Oct 1909, Cedarville, Michigan, Les Cheneaux Islands, Lake Huron (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Cause: Destroyed by fire while docked or near harbor—no reported cargo (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: Status unknown; no loss of life recorded in summary; likely crew evacuated or ashore.
Disposition
Burned to a total loss; presumably scrapped in place or the burnt hull removed. No further records indicating salvage or rebuilding.
Site Discovery & Condition
There is no record of wreck discovery or diving surveys. Wreck likely destroyed or salvaged soon after; site probably cleared to prevent navigation hazards.
Notices & Warnings
No official Notices to Mariners have been found. As a small tug in a sheltered harbor, it likely posed minimal long-term navigational risk.
Sources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files registry: date, cause, spec sheet (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
George E. represents the many small, hardworking steam tugs that served the Great Lakes’ regional waterways and harbors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its loss by fire in Cedarville in October 1909 likely had limited operational impact but would have been felt locally. While the vessel itself is no longer available for study, its service life reflects the everyday maritime operations vital to Great Lakes commerce and navigation.
Further Research Suggestions
- Crew Records: Examine enrollment logs or inspection reports at the U.S. National Archives (Record Group 26) for crew manifests.
- Local Archives & Newspapers: Investigate Les Cheneaux Pilot and St. Ignace News Tribune (Oct–Nov 1909) for incident reporting or fire details.
- Harbor Master & Tow Company Ledgers: Potential records may exist at Michigan Maritime Museum or local historical societies.
- Wreck Survey: Unlikely a dive target due to destruction; if remains are sought, shallow-water survey near Cedarville harbor could confirm presence of burnt timbers or boilers.