Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: T. M. Moore (aka Thomas M. Moore)
- Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: 52 × 14 × 7 ft; 25 GRT / 13 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 25 GRT / 13 NRT
- Location: Rattlesnake Island, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 145356
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A compact wooden steam tug used for towing and harbor assist work. Typical of late-19th-century tugs, she provided work around Buffalo and western Lake Erie.
Description
Launched in 1883, T. M. Moore served various towing duties on Lake Erie. On 22 December 1898, she became stranded at Rattlesnake Island’s northwest shore during winter weather. Unable to refloat, she subsequently burned to the waterline and was declared a total loss, likely due to a spark or fire-source igniting her wooden hull.
Decades later, an almost identical vessel named T. M. Moore (ON 145222, built 1880) burned at Grand Island in the Niagara River. That was a separate incident.
History
The wreck was destroyed by fire after stranding. No portion of hull was salvaged, and no remains are visible today.
Significant Incidents
- The loss was recorded in Lake Erie shipping logs and underwriter reports for December 1898.
- There has been no modern survey or GPS documentation of the wreck site.
Final Disposition
No navigational markers or charted hazards now denote the site. Rattlesnake Island remains a low-traffic location without wreck advisories.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The steam tug T. M. Moore, built in 1883, stranded and burned at Rattlesnake Island on 22 December 1898, ending her service. Although a similarly named vessel was lost elsewhere, this report reflects the confirmed Lake Erie fire incident. No wreck remains are evident, and the fire-caused loss aligns with common wooden-tug vulnerabilities of that era.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”t-m-moore-thomas-m-moore-us-145356″ title=”References & Links”]
For further information, please refer to the resources listed below.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: T. M. Moore (aka Thomas M. Moore)
- Built: 1883 in Buffalo, New York
- Official Number: 145356
- Vessel Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
- Dimensions: 52 × 14 × 7 ft; 25 GRT / 13 NRT
- Final Loss: 22 December 1898
- Location: Stranded and destroyed by fire at Rattlesnake Island, Lake Erie
- Cargo: None
- Crew & Casualties: Not recorded
Vessel Type
A compact wooden steam tug used for towing and harbor assist work. Typical of late-19th-century tugs, she provided work around Buffalo and western Lake Erie.
History & Final Voyage
Launched in 1883, T. M. Moore served various towing duties on Lake Erie. On 22 December 1898, she became stranded at Rattlesnake Island’s northwest shore during winter weather. Unable to refloat, she subsequently burned to the waterline and was declared a total loss, likely due to a spark or fire-source igniting her wooden hull (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org).
Decades later, an almost identical vessel named T. M. Moore (ON 145222, built 1880) burned at Grand Island in the Niagara River. That was a separate incident (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
The wreck was destroyed by fire after stranding. No portion of hull was salvaged, and no remains are visible today.
Located By & Date Found
The loss was recorded in Lake Erie shipping logs and underwriter reports for December 1898. There has been no modern survey or GPS documentation of the wreck site.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers or charted hazards now denote the site. Rattlesnake Island remains a low-traffic location without wreck advisories.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry for the vessel loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Alchem Inc. Lake Erie wreck index (alcheminc.com)
- Historical shipwreck lists confirm date and location of loss (en.wikipedia.org)
Conclusion
The steam tug T. M. Moore, built in 1883, stranded and burned at Rattlesnake Island on 22 December 1898, ending her service. Although a similarly named vessel was lost elsewhere, this report reflects the confirmed Lake Erie fire incident. No wreck remains are evident, and the fire-caused loss aligns with common wooden-tug vulnerabilities of that era.