Identification & Site Information

  • Name: T.M. Bradley
  • Type: Propeller Tug
  • Year Built: 1878
  • Official Number: 145172
  • Builder: Bates, Chicago, Illinois
  • Tonnage: 12 tons
  • Owner: Smith Brothers, Cheboygan, Michigan
  • Final Location: Near the mouth of the Tahquamenon River, Lake Superior
  • Date of Wreck: 4 September 1884

Vessel Type Description

The T.M. Bradley was a small, wood-hulled Tugboat fitted with a propeller engine—standard for auxiliary and service tugs of its era. These modest yet vital vessels assisted in towing, dredging operations, and harbor service. Its size and build indicate it was optimized for near-shore operations and utility duties rather than long-haul or open-lake transit.

History

Launched in 1878 by the Bates yard in Chicago, the T.M. Bradley served primarily in northern Michigan under the ownership of Smith Brothers in Cheboygan. It frequently supported dredging operations, likely in rivers and harbour approaches, making it essential infrastructure for maintaining navigability.

Final Incident

On 4 September 1884, while en route to a dredging site on Lake Superior, the vessel encountered heavy weather. The Tug developed a leak, and worsening conditions extinguished the boiler fires, leaving it powerless and adrift.

  • Emergency Response: The captain ordered the vessel intentionally grounded near the Tahquamenon River’s mouth to save the crew.
  • Outcome: All six crew members survived unharmed.
  • Loss Assessment: The vessel was declared a Total Loss, with its $4,000 Hull uninsured. It carried no cargo at the time.

Final Disposition

The T.M. Bradley was irrecoverable. Grounded and destroyed near the river mouth, it was not salvaged. No known remnants survive today.

Located By & Date Found

There is no known rediscovery or sonar confirmation of the T.M. Bradley. Its remains are likely buried in shifting sands or decomposed in the shallow surf zone near the Tahquamenon River delta.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted for this location.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Condition: Assumed to be fully deteriorated or buried.
  • Accessibility: No known dive site or remains accessible to researchers or recreational divers.

Significance

Though minor in size, the T.M. Bradley illustrates the vulnerability of small auxiliary vessels to open lake conditions, even when operating close to shore. Its safe evacuation is a notable success amid adverse weather and mechanical failure. The incident highlights the importance of crew discipline and emergency grounding protocols in late-19th-century maritime practices.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The T.M. Bradley stands as a quiet testament to the working-class backbone of Great Lakes industry. Though small and largely forgotten, her crew’s safe survival in the face of failure and storm is a noteworthy chapter in regional maritime history. Her loss near the Tahquamenon River is part of the broader, largely undocumented legacy of small workboats lost in service.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: T.M. Bradley, Lake Superior, Tugboat loss, Tahquamenon River, 1884 storm, Cheboygan, Great Lakes service vessels
  • Categories: Wooden propeller tugs, auxiliary vessels, Lake Superior losses
  • Glossary: intentional grounding, boiler extinguished, dredging support vessel