Identification & Construction
- Name: P. M. Campbell
- Official No.: C94684
- Type: Wooden propeller Tug
- Built: 1889 by S. D. Andrews, Collingwood, Ontario
- Dimensions: 72 × 14 × 7 ft; 49 gross tons, 33 net tons
- Owner: Canal and Lake Towing Co., New York
- Homeport: Operated from Collingwood, Ontario with Great Lakes deployment
Final Voyage & Fire Incident (Sept 11, 1908)
- While moored at Manitowaning Bay, P. M. Campbell caught fire near her engine compartment, causing rapid spread fueled by diesel oil
- Local firefighting efforts were thwarted when hoses threatened to sink her; Coast Guard personnel eventually towed her past the Breakwater, where she burned out to total constructive loss
- No loss of life reported; fire likely accidental during maintenance or engine operation
Aftermath & Community Recognition
- The Tug’s captain remained aboard during the emergency and expertly navigated her to safe depth
- The crew and rescuers were praised in local histories for their courage and composure during the conflagration near the dock
- The story was chronicled in the Manitoulin Islands historical narrative Through the Years, citing bravery by Captain P.M. Campbell and others
Archival Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“C” list): Provides technical specs, detailed fire narrative, and loss disposition
- Manitoulin local history texts: Describe Captain Campbell’s actions and firefighting challenges
- Ontario Archives (RootsWeb): Feature biographical info and community reaction to the 1908 Manitowaning fire
Wreck Condition & Significance
- The burned hulk was left at sea after scuttling; no formal salvage or site survey recorded
- As a diesel‑powered Tug from the period, the Campbell reflects early industrial propulsion and raises important themes of fuel risk in small vessels
- Her story is interwoven with Manitoulin Island’s maritime heritage and early Coast Guard-community rescue operations
Gaps & Research Avenues
| Research Focus | Suggested Approach |
|---|---|
| Exact fire origin & cause | Search Manitoulin Expositor (Sept 1908) for fire reports and dock logs |
| Crew & Captain biographies | Consult Ontario maritime personnel records and biographies (e.g., family files for Captain Campbell) |
| Engine & equipment salvage | Inquire Collingwood shipyard records about post-loss salvage or use of parts |
| Wreck location & remains | Coordinate with local dive groups or museum for underwater photodocumentation of remains |
Conclusion
The Tug P. M. Campbell, a 49‑ton wooden diesel propeller built in Collingwood in 1889, suffered a catastrophic engine-room fire on September 11, 1908, at Manitowaning Bay. Battalion efforts by the captain, crew, Coast Guard, and communities prevented further loss, but the vessel was intentionally scuttled to extinguish the blaze and later declared a Total Loss. No fatalities occurred, and the incident exemplifies early 20th-century marine fire response and the risks of diesel-powered small craft
- Compile detailed newspaper clippings from Manitoulin press covering the fire?
- Draft archival requests for engine salvage records in Collingwood Shipyards?
- Propose a wreck-site dive survey plan for the burned Hull?