(Tug, 1892–1901)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Type: Small wooden river Tug – steam-powered
• Built: 1892
• Lost: Early July 1901, during a summer storm on Lake Superior (logged by GL Shipwreck Files as “caught in storm”) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Description of Incident

• Time of loss: Around 24:00 (midnight) during a summer storm
• Situation: Caught in severe weather on the big lake, unable to navigate conditions
• Outcome: Lost to the storm; no explicit location given in records, though implied near its lake route (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Crew & Casualties

• Loss of life: None reported in shipwreck summary (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Crew: No names currently found

History & Career

• Service: Likely operated as a river Tug and small-lake switch boat, built for harbors or near-shore tasks
• Ownership & Command: Not documented in current sources

Data Gaps & Recommended Research

• Exact Loss Date & Location
  • “Early July 1901”—needs precision.
  • Storm logs from GL Shipwreck Files indicate timing, but not coordinates.
• Vessel Details
  • Dimensions, official number, engine specs, ownership or home port are unknown.
• Crew, Operational Route & Client Service
  • No crew manifest or incident report located.
  • Service range (harbour, river, or lake) undefined.
• Documentation Sources to Explore Next
  • Local newspapers (June–July 1901) near likely operating hubs: search Superior, Duluth, Thunder Bay, and adjacent harbor press. ChroniclingAmerica, newspapers.com, and Library archives could hold articles with more detail.
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (HCGL): request original entry for Sir Luke to check for missing metadata.
  • Enrollment & Registration Logs in HCGL to identify build specs and official numbers.
  • Harbor Records from port authorities (e.g., Duluth, Superior—if river Tug was based there) for storm incident logs.
  • Marine insurance records for policy claims or Rebuild attempts post‑storm.

Preliminary Conclusions

• Sir Luke was a small steam Tug built in 1892.
• She succumbed to a summer storm on Lake Superior in early July 1901 and sank, but her crew survived.
• Documentation beyond this summary is sparse; tools and records listed above may fill in vital info to complete her profile.

Next Research Steps