Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name: Effort
  • Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Date Lost: 6 September 1898
  • Location: Lake Erie, near Pelee Passage
  • Crew Aboard: 4 (1 fatality)

Incident Overview

The Effort was being towed by the steam Tug Ariadne in formation with the Steamer George Stephenson and the steel Barge Roebling. During a crossing maneuver, Ariadne passed between George Stephenson and Roebling. A tow cable from George Stephenson snapped taut and simultaneously struck Effort amidships, slicing her wooden Hull in half—a brutal “sawing” under pressure (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, archive.org).

Casualties & Rescue

The vessel flooded and sank rapidly. Of the four crew aboard, one perished; two were rescued by a vessel from the Kendall Ship Reporting Company (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Aftermath & Final Disposition

Despite the violent collision, Effort was later raised in two pieces. She was reassembled and returned to service. However, by 1901, she had been Abandoned at Thunder Bay and never sailed again (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Vessel Type & Description

Typical of Great Lakes Schooner-barges, the Effort was likely built with:

  • Oak framing and pine planking
  • Two masts with minimal rigging
  • Reinforced Hull meant to withstand towing stress

These barges carried bulk commodities such as coal, lumber, and iron ore, and relied entirely on their tow vessels for propulsion and steering (manitouislandsarchives.org, en.wikipedia.org, thunderbay.noaa.gov).

Context & Significance

This incident underscores the hazards inherent in tight convoy towing during the late 19th century. The sequence of boats under tow—Ariadne, Effort, George Stephenson, and Roebling—highlights how minor miscalculations in spacing and timing could lead to catastrophic outcomes. It’s a sobering example of the fragility of wood-hulled vessels under industrial tow.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The loss of the Effort highlights the perils of industrial-era tow logistics, especially in narrow or busy lake passages. Though raised and Rebuilt, her ultimate abandonment in Thunder Bay suggests that the collision’s damage and the economic costs surpassed her value. It’s a telling example of wooden tow-Barge fragility and the complexity of marathon towing operations of that era.

If you’d like, I can pull original 1898 newspaper articles or technical diagrams showing the towlines and coupling rigs used—just say the word!