Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Charles E. Endell
  • Official Number: 125773
  • Built: 1879 in East Saginaw, Michigan by Joseph Robarge (constructed atop the bottom of “Star No. 2”)
  • Vessel Type: Screw-propelled wooden Tug (Towboat)
  • Hull: Single-Deck wood
  • Propulsion: Single screw propeller
  • Dimensions & Tonnage
    • Length: 57 ft (17.4 m)
    • Beam: 12.9 ft (3.9 m)
    • Depth: 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 28.87 gt
  • Net Tonnage: 14.44 nt
  • Ownership History
    • 1879 Oct 7: Enrolled in Port Huron under original owner A.A. Jenkins, East Saginaw
    • 1879: Burned in Saginaw River (not sunk; repaired/Rebuilt)
    • 1885: Re-registered in Cheboygan, Michigan
    • 1887 Jun 4: Owned by James Reid & Company, St. Ignace, Michigan

Final Disposition

  • Date of Loss: 8 October 1887
  • Location: Approximately 2 miles west of Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
  • Cause: Driven ashore in a severe storm; Hull pounded to pieces and declared a total wreck by 20 Oct 1887

Wreck Site & Condition

The Charles E. Endell broke apart on open rock shoreline. No organized salvage or dive survey has been reported. Due to exposure to Lake Superior’s robust surf, any remnants would be highly degraded or scattered across the intertidal zone. No coordinates or underwater site records exist.

NOTMARs & Navigational Advisories

No relevant NOTMAR entries or modern chart notices. The wreck occurred prior to systematic charting, and its site remains uncharted.

Historical Significance & Context

This small screw Tug typifies late-19th-century utility vessels supporting Great Lakes maritime commerce—especially in northern Michigan. Surviving a prior fire, the Endell ultimately succumbed to Lake Superior’s autumn storms, highlighting the enduring risks for small wooden steam vessels during seasonal transitions.

Sources & Further Research

Primary chronology based on registry data and historical wreck files (e.g., Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – E).
Further archival detail—such as crew lists, storm reports, or insurance records—may be available in Michigan maritime archives or local newspapers from October 1887.

Conclusion

The Charles E. Endell lived a durable yet ultimately perilous service life: built in 1879, Rebuilt after fire, and wrecked in 1887 by falling victim to Lake Superior’s harsh weather. Without surviving remains, her legacy lies in shipping registries and storm histories, emblematic of the working tugs that plied the Great Lakes during the steam era.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Great Lakes Tug • Screw-propelled • Whitefish Point wreck • Lake Superior storm • 1887 maritime loss • wooden steam Tug • registry documentation.