SUNKEN HISTORY — A Diver's Journal
Exploring The Tug Sport, Part 2
by Capt. Deb Biniecki

Last month we were getting ready to dive the historic tug Sport. The tug was designed by the famed marine architect Frank E. Kirby, and built in 1873 at the shipyard of Eber Brock Ward in Wyandotte, Michigan. At the time the tug was considered one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the Great Lakes. It is believed to be one of the nation's first steel hulled vessels. The Sport was purchased by Captain Thompson of Port Huron in 1913. The tug's career ended in a gale on December 13, 1920. The tug now rests in about 48 feet of water at the bottom of Lake Huron, three miles off the Lexington shore. It lies within the boundaries of the 162 square miles Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve.

Our group of newly certified divers has finished their briefing and viewed Pat Stayer's print of the sunken tug. They are now ready to experience their first wreck dive. One by one, they held their masks and made giant strides off the swim platform of the Huron Explorer. They quickly swam to the bow of the boat and followed the mooring line down to the tug below. The nervous excitement in their eyes soon turned to fascination, as the outline of the small tug came into view just a few feet below the surface. Thanks to the zebra muscles filtering the water and the bright sun, visibility is excellent.

They continue down the line, equalizing the pressure in their ears every few feet until reaching the port side gunwale, where the mooring line is attached to the aft section of the wreck. The tug settled on the bottom, tilted over on the starboard side at about a 45-degree angle. The new divers perch on the high side of the wreck adjusting their buoyancy, tightening their weight belts and clearing their masks. In pairs, they then begin their tour of the tug Sport.

Looking over the aft section, the propeller is visible off the port side. It separated from the shaft when it came in contact with the bottom, breaking one of the blades in half. The divers swim around the stern to view the massive rudder. They continue around to the starboard side, where they noticed the steam whistle. For years it laid along side of the tug off in the sand. Divers have placed it up on the deck for others to enjoy. Also on the deck are the remains of a coal shovel and two large pipe wrenches. One of the divers picks up the heavy wrench and then places it on a steam pipe. Swimming along the starboard gunwale, another diver discovers a brass nozzle from a wash down or fire hose.

The pilothouse was washed away, either at the time of sinking or during a subsequent storm. The machinery below deck is now exposed. The divers stop to admire the steam engine jutting out from the mid section of the tug. The divers find some gauges among the wreckage. Upon closer inspection, one diver realizes they are Sherwood gauges, the same name on the scuba regulator he is breathing from, and points this out to his partner. There are some brass valves in view. A diver reaches over to turn one and finds that it turns easily, even after nearly 80 years on the bottom of Lake Huron.

Continuing forward, the divers peer through an opening below deck and see a coal pail. One has to wonder if the Sport's new coal passer, known only as Jim, tossed the pail there prior to abandoning his post. As you may remember from last month, the inexperienced fire tender became sea sick and went to lie down in his bunk. This action started a chain of events, which led to the tug's sinking.

The boiler fire extinguished and the tug lost steam. Due to the high seas, the captain could not leave the pilothouse. The bilge pumps shut down without steam and the tug took on water at an alarming rate. With no steam to drive the pumps, the tug wallowed helplessly in the raging seas. When Captain Thompson was finally able to check on his crew, he ordered the crew to launch the lifeboat. They stood by the tug as long as possible in an attempt to restart the fire. The Captain lost hope when the water rose to the tug's rail. Captain Thompson and the crew abandoned the tug and fought their way through the gale to shore in a small lifeboat. Jim disappeared after reaching shore, before anyone learned his full name.

Just forward of the steam engine is the starboard side deck cleat now covered with zebra mussels. Close by is a small windlass that was used to lower and raise the anchor. Swimming away from the bow, we look back at the tug; she appears to be winking at us. On closer examination, the divers discover the port side hawser is false and only the starboard side was used for the anchor chain. Continuing away from the starboard gunwale we see the steering assembly. Touching the spokes of the wheel, one can only imagine what it was like for Captain Thompson that December night, held captive in the pilot house, as torrents of ice water rushed over the bow.

It's amazing how fast time flies under water. It's been 30 minutes and the divers are getting slightly chilled. They make their way back to the high side of the wreck and start up the mooring line. Hand over hand up the line the divers make their way toward the surface, stopping briefly at 15 feet for a safety stop. They are excitedly chattering as soon as they break the surface. The group returned to the boat with lots of observations and questions. One question in particular is 'What happened to the bell and anchor that were shown in the drawing during the briefing?'

This is a question we would all like to know the answer to. Although it is a felony to remove any artifacts from any shipwreck within the preserve, it does not seem to deter some unscrupulous divers. The bell that bared the tug's name went missing early on and was replaced by a nameless bell. That bell eventually disappeared, too. Unfortunately, the large anchor that was close to the starboard bow is no longer there either. In 1995 over Labor Day weekend the large traditional double-fluked kedge anchor vanished. Although the anchor is commercially worthless, it was priceless as part of the historic wreck site. The Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve Committee offered a $1,000 reward for the return of the anchor. It was never returned and is probably disintegrating in someone's garage. There are no bragging rights attached to this anchor or other stolen artifacts from any of the area's shipwrecks, since conviction carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The Tug is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1992, through the efforts of Jim and Pat Stayer and Tim Juhl, founding members of the Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve Committee, the Sport became the site of Michigan's first underwater historical marker. The marker has since been lifted by the state for repair of a corrosion problem. Once this is corrected, it will be replaced on the heavy cement base, which sits just off the port side of the wreck site. The wreck was originally found by Wayne Brusate in 1987. It has been enjoyed by both experienced and novice divers for nearly 20 years. The relatively shallow depth of the tug allows it to be a prime destination for novice divers, while its unique history provides an interesting experience for more seasoned divers.

If you would like to contact Capt. Deb with any ideas, feedback or information regarding shipwreck stories, please contact her through Huron Explorations at 810-648-4638 or email at fathoms@greatlakes.net. SCUBA diving charters can also be arranged through the above contact information.