Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Phoenix (I. U. Masters)
- Type: Wooden steam tug (wrecking)
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Peck & Masters, Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: 103 × 23 × 11 ft; 173 GRT / 110 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 173 GRT / 110 NRT
- Location: C.S.R. Railroad slip, Amherstburg, ON
- Coordinates: Nil return; no modern archaeological surveys or GPS coordinates confirm her location.
- Official Number: 12795
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–19th-century wooden steam tug—later repurposed for wrecking salvage—of moderate size and power, commonly employed on the Detroit River and Great Lakes.
Description
On 17 November 1884, while docked in Amherstburg, Phoenix caught fire within one of her coal bunkers. The blaze quickly spread through the upperworks. Multiple vessels attempted rescue, including the tug Shaughraun and steambarge Marsh, with Shaughraun finally towing her off the dock near Norvell’s Wharf, where she burned through and sank.
History
Phoenix was gutted by fire—upper decks destroyed, machinery likely damaged—and sank at her float. She was declared a total loss, later rebuilt and relaunched in September 1884 under the same name, continuing service.
Significant Incidents
- No casualties reported during the fire and sinking.
Final Disposition
Phoenix was written off and abandoned after her rebuild. No remnants have been identified, but her story is preserved through historic tug operations on the Detroit River.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No modern archaeological surveys or GPS coordinates confirm her location; remains likely worked into dock area sediments.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”phoenix-i-u-masters-us-12795″ title=”References & Links”]
The steam tug Phoenix, built in 1862, burned internally in a coal bunker on 17 November 1884, and sank after being towed off Amherstburg’s dock. No casualties occurred. Although rebuilt and reactivated later that year, her burned hull was written off and abandoned.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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