Grace A. Ruelle – Lake Huron Tug Shipwreck (1899)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Grace A. Ruelle
• Type: wooden propeller tug
• Year Built: 1877
• Builder: G. Notter, Buffalo
• Dimensions: 39 ft (11.89 m) X 12 ft (3.66 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 14 gross tons; 7 net tons
• Location: Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
• Official Number: 75977
• Original Owners: Alexander Ruelle Jr., Detroit

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

• A small wooden propeller tug, approximately 39 × 12 × 6 ft, 14 gross tons and 7 net tons—common dimensions for harbour/river tugs of the era.

Description

• Built for the Buffalo Mutual Insurance Co. as a wrecker tug, she had a modest profile suitable for towing, harbor work, and government contract assignments. She received major repairs in 1876 and 1882.

History

• Originally John Nice, later renamed Grace A. Ruelle. Owned by Alexander Ruelle Jr. of Detroit; the vessel operated under Captain Julius LeMay at time of loss.
• The vessel had previously been involved in controversy after confiscation by Canadian authorities for illegal garbage dumping in Canadian waters; the U.S. State Department intervened—indicating she worked intimately in cross-border government assignments.

Significant Incidents

• Date of loss: July 29, 1899
• Location: Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron
• Circumstances: During her “government work,” Grace A. Ruelle foundered from unknown causes in Saginaw Bay. She sank in heavy seas while en route to or from a government assignment.
• Two crew members were aboard at the time:
• Captain Julius LeMay: attempted to swim toward shore on a makeshift raft; he drowned during the attempt.
• Engineer Fred Sayre: survived and was rescued by the propeller David W. Rust the next day; Sayre was brought ashore at Harbor Beach.

Final Disposition

• Grace A. Ruelle sank after foundering; the wreck has not been located in modern surveys. Given the small size, she likely lies in moderately deep water in Saginaw Bay.
• No salvage operations are recorded, and no formal hazard advisory was issued.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• There are no Notices to Mariners or official hazard bulletins referencing the loss of Grace A. Ruelle.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”grace-a-ruelle-us-75977″ title=”References & Links”]

Grace A. Ruelle was a late-19th century tug operating under government contract on Lake Huron. She foundered unexpectedly in Saginaw Bay on July 29, 1899. Despite her small size, the tragedy claimed the life of Captain LeMay, leaving Engineer Sayre as sole survivor. Her loss highlights the risks faced by support vessels performing government tasks on the exposed shallows of the Great Lakes. The wreck remains unlocated, but focused archival research and hydrographic survey may yield new insights.