Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Maude US 116481

Explore the history of the MAUDE, a tugboat with a storied past, including its construction, service, and mysterious sinking in Lake St. Clair.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: MAUDE
  • Type: Tug (Towboat)
  • Year Built: 1902
  • Builder: William J. McDonald, Wallaceburg, Ontario
  • Dimensions: Length: 60.2 ft (18.34 m); Beam: 13.5 ft (4.11 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft (1.52 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 19 tons
  • Location: Lake St. Clair
  • Official Number: 116481
  • Original Owners: John Cooper, Chatham, Ontario

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The MAUDE was a small wooden-hulled tug (towboat), designed for towing barges, assisting in harbour operations, and general workboat duties in the Great Lakes region.

Description

Constructed in 1902 in Wallaceburg, Ontario, the MAUDE was uniquely built on the hull of the earlier tug GRACE DARLING (1884), a practice not uncommon in the early 20th century when older vessels were dismantled and their serviceable hulls repurposed. This method was cost-effective, allowing shipbuilders to extend the life of valuable timber hulls while updating the vessel’s superstructure and mechanical components.

The MAUDE measured just over 60 feet in length with a 13.5-foot beam and a draft of 5 feet, making her suitable for operations in shallow waters like Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Powered by a screw propulsion system, she would have been driven by a steam or early Diesel engine typical of Great Lakes tugs during that era.

History

The MAUDE had a working career typical of small tugs operating in the Great Lakes region, engaged in towing, harbor support, and possibly clandestine activities during the Prohibition era, suggested by the nature of her final cargo.

1902: Built for John Cooper of Chatham, Ontario, the MAUDE entered service as a general-purpose tug.

Operational Role: Likely used for towing small barges, assisting larger vessels in tight harbor areas, and transporting cargo between ports along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

Connection to GRACE DARLING: The MAUDE’s construction on the bottom of the GRACE DARLING linked her to an earlier generation of Great Lakes tugs. The GRACE DARLING, built in 1884 by Wm. Taylor of Wallaceburg, Ontario, was dismantled in 1902, with her registration closed and her hull repurposed for the MAUDE.

Significant Incidents

  • On October 24, 1922, the MAUDE foundered in Lake St. Clair. While specific details surrounding the sinking are limited, the vessel’s final cargo of whiskey strongly suggests involvement in Prohibition-era smuggling activities.
  • In October 1928, the wreck was reportedly removed to 24th Street in Detroit, Michigan, suggesting that salvage efforts were undertaken, possibly due to the continued value of the hull, machinery, or even to recover illicit cargo.

Final Disposition

On October 24, 1922, the MAUDE foundered in Lake St. Clair. The vessel’s final cargo of whiskey suggests involvement in Prohibition-era smuggling activities, a common practice on the Great Lakes during the 1920s. Interestingly, in October 1928, the wreck was reportedly removed to 24th Street in Detroit, Michigan, indicating that salvage efforts were undertaken.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the MAUDE is not documented, as the wreck was reportedly salvaged in 1928. However, the legacy of the vessel endures through historical records and its connection to the vibrant, often shadowy, history of Great Lakes shipping.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”maude-us-116481″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The MAUDE’s history reflects the evolving maritime practices of the early 20th century, from her construction on the hull of the GRACE DARLING to her possible involvement in Prohibition-era smuggling. Her story provides a glimpse into both the industrial and illicit maritime activities that shaped the Great Lakes during this period.

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.

Postcard – Posted to Facebook by Ron Beaupre
The tug MAUDE towing a schooner at the port of Wallaceburg. The tug was built there in 1902 and would be busy towing sailing vessels from Lake St. Clair to this port and return

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: MAUDE
  • Former Names: Built on the bottom of GRACE DARLING (1884)
  • Official Number: 116481
  • Date Built & Launched: 1902
  • Builder: William J. McDonald, Wallaceburg, Ontario
  • Original Owner: John Cooper, Chatham, Ontario
  • Registration Number(s): 116481
  • Measurements: Length: 60.2 ft (18.34 m) Beam: 13.5 ft (4.11 m) Depth: 5 ft (1.52 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 19 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 13 tons

Vessel Type

The MAUDE was a small wooden-hulled tug (towboat), designed for towing barges, assisting in harbour operations, and general workboat duties in the Great Lakes region.

Constructed in 1902 in Wallaceburg, Ontario, the MAUDE was uniquely built on the hull of the earlier tug GRACE DARLING (1884), a practice not uncommon in the early 20th century when older vessels were dismantled and their serviceable hulls repurposed. This method was cost-effective, allowing shipbuilders to extend the life of valuable timber hulls while updating the vessel’s superstructure and mechanical components.

The MAUDE measured just over 60 feet in length with a 13.5-foot beam and a draft of 5 feet, making her suitable for operations in shallow waters like Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. Powered by a screw propulsion system, she would have been driven by a steam or early Diesel engine typical of Great Lakes tugs during that era.

History

The MAUDE had a working career typical of small tugs operating in the Great Lakes region, engaged in towing, harbor support, and possibly clandestine activities during the Prohibition era, suggested by the nature of her final cargo.

1902: Built for John Cooper of Chatham, Ontario, the MAUDE entered service as a general-purpose tug.

Operational Role: Likely used for towing small barges, assisting larger vessels in tight harbor areas, and transporting cargo between ports along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

Connection to GRACE DARLING: The MAUDE’s construction on the bottom of the GRACE DARLING linked her to an earlier generation of Great Lakes tugs. The GRACE DARLING, built in 1884 by Wm. Taylor of Wallaceburg, Ontario, was dismantled in 1902, with her registration closed and her hull repurposed for the MAUDE.

Final Disposition

On October 24, 1922, the MAUDE foundered in Lake St. Clair. While specific details surrounding the sinking are limited, the vessel’s final cargo of whiskey strongly suggests involvement in Prohibition-era smuggling activities. This was a common practice on the Great Lakes during the 1920s when tugs, small freighters, and fishing boats were frequently used to transport illegal liquor from Canada to the United States, exploiting the vast and complex waterways to evade law enforcement.

Interestingly, in October 1928, the wreck was reportedly removed to 24th Street in Detroit, Michigan, suggesting that salvage efforts were undertaken, possibly due to the continued value of the hull, machinery, or even to recover illicit cargo.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The MAUDE’s history reflects the evolving maritime practices of the early 20th century, from her construction on the hull of the GRACE DARLING to her possible involvement in Prohibition-era smuggling. Her story provides a glimpse into both the industrial and illicit maritime activities that shaped the Great Lakes during this period. While the vessel itself no longer rests at the site of her sinking, her legacy endures through historical records and her connection to the vibrant, often shadowy, history of Great Lakes shipping.

maude-us-116481 1922-10-24 07:55:00