Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

Wooden screw Tug – originally constructed as a fish Tug, later used as a general Towboat.

Description

The Rainbow was a compact wooden-hulled Tugboat measuring 47 feet (14.3 metres) in length, 12 feet (3.7 metres) in beam, and 5 feet (1.5 metres) in depth. She was powered by a single-cylinder high-pressure steam engine, rated at 100 horsepower, built by Bay State Iron Works in Erie. Steam was supplied by a Scotch marine boiler operating at 130 psi, manufactured by Noble & Hall.

Though small, the Rainbow was a reliable and capable harbour Tug and workboat suited for operation on inland waters such as the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

History

Built in 1894 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Rainbow served in commercial service throughout the Great Lakes for several decades. By 1899, she was owned by W. Tallman. Her roles likely included towing barges, assisting with fishing operations, and serving other waterfront tasks common for small utility vessels.

She remained in use into the 1920s until her destruction in a fire on June 10, 1927, while operating near or moored at Peche Island in the Detroit River. The fire consumed the vessel down to the waterline, ending her operational life.

Final Disposition

The Rainbow burned to the waterline near Peche Island. Her remains were not formally salvaged or recovered, and no detailed archaeological assessment has documented the site. It is assumed that remnants of the vessel may still lie in shallow water or sediment near the island, but no precise location has been verified in known sonar or underwater surveys.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return – no known documentation of the wreck’s rediscovery or survey. The wreck is not currently marked or confirmed in any major archaeological database.

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • Obstruction Status: Unverified, not charted – remains potentially submerged or dispersed near Peche Island shoreline.
  • Advisory: Mariners and divers should exercise caution near known historic wreck locations even if unconfirmed.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Tug Rainbow represents one of many lesser-known but historically valuable utility vessels that supported commerce and industry on the Great Lakes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though small, her steam-powered design and long service life reflect a common yet essential class of vessels now mostly forgotten. The lack of formal wreck documentation calls for potential future archaeological attention.

Suggested Keywords, Categories & Glossary Terms

Keywords: Tug Rainbow, Peche Island shipwreck, Detroit River marine history, Erie Pennsylvania-built Tug, fish Tug fire, 1927 vessel loss

Categories: Great Lakes tugboats, Detroit River Maritime History, Unlocated Shipwrecks, Fire-related Vessel Losses

Glossary Terms:

  • Scotch Boiler: A type of cylindrical marine boiler with internal flues, common in steamships of the era.
  • Screw Propulsion: Propeller-driven movement, as opposed to paddle wheels.
  • high-pressure steam engine: Steam engine operating under relatively high steam pressure, increasing efficiency and power.

Would you like to explore other unlocated shipwrecks from the Peche Island or Lake St. Clair area?