Robert C. Pringle (tug)
{{Short description|Wooden-hulled American tugboat that sank in Lake Michigan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|display title = Robert C. Pringle (tug)}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image = Chequamegon ship 1.jpg |Ship caption = Robert C. Pringle as Chequamegon, {{c.|1903}} }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship header = |Ship name = Robert C. Pringle | Ship country = United States |Ship flag = 60px |Ship operator = Pringle Barge Line Company, Mentor, Ohio{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=30}} |Ship ordered = |Ship registry = Fairport, Ohio{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=31}} |Ship builder = Manitowoc Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=20}} |Ship yard number = 1 |Ship laid down = |Ship launched = May 9, 1903{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=20}} |Ship identification = Registry number US 127764{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship acquired = |Ship in service = June 23, 1903{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}} |Ship out of service = June 19, 1922{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship fate = Sank after striking an obstruction{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Ship header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Tugboat |Ship tonnage = * {{GRT|141}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}}
|Ship length = {{convert|101|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship beam = {{convert|22.33|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship depth = {{convert|9.50|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} |Ship draft = |Ship power = * Engine:
|Ship propulsion = 1 × {{convert|7.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} fixed pitch propeller{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}} |Ship speed = |Ship crew = |Ship notes = }} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Robert C. Pringle (tug) Shipwreck | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | location = {{convert|8|mi|km}} southeast of Sheboygan, Wisconsin | alt = | coordinates = {{coord|43|41|30|N|87|33|18|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = USA Wisconsin | map_alt = | area = | built = 1903 | architect = Manitowoc Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company | architecture = | added = December 14, 2020{{sfnp|National Park Service|2020}} | refnum = 100005902 }} |
Robert C. Pringle, originally named Chequamegon, was a wooden-hulled American tugboat that sank without loss of life on Lake Michigan, near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on June 19, 1922, after striking an obstruction (possibly floating driftwood).
Chequamegon was built in 1903 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. She was built for the newly formed Chequamegon Bay Transportation Company of Ashland, Wisconsin, under whom she hauled freight between Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn and Madeline Island. Between 1904 and 1918, she was sold multiple times, and was renamed Pere Marquette 7 in 1911. In 1918, Pere Marquette 7 was sold to the Pringle Barge Line of Cleveland, Ohio. She was converted to a tug and was renamed Robert C. Pringle.
On June 18, 1922, Robert C. Pringle began towing the wooden bulk freighter Venezuela from Milwaukee to Sandusky, Ohio, where the Venezuela was scheduled to receive extensive repairs. At about 2:00 a.m. on the following day, as the vessels were passing Sheboygan, Robert C. Pringle struck an obstruction (some contemporary reports state a piece of driftwood) and began taking on water fast. Despite her pumps being in operation, the water eventually extinguished her boilers, forcing her crew to abandon her and row to Venezuela. All of the crewmen were delivered safely to Manitowoc.
Robert C. Pringle{{'}}s wreck was discovered in 2008 by Steve Radovan. In the summer of 2019 it was subjected to a thorough archaeological survey by the Wisconsin Historical Society, who described the wreck as "remarkably intact". The wreck of Robert C. Pringle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 2020.
History
=Design and construction=
Robert C. Pringle (Official number 127764){{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} was built as Chequamegon in 1903, by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company on the banks of the Manitowoc River in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=20}} The first vessel built by the newly established shipyard, she was launched at 3:06 p.m. on May 9, 1903, as hull number #1.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=20}} Chequamegon{{'}}s wooden hull was {{convert|101|ft|m|1}} in length, {{convert|22.33|ft|m|1}} (or {{convert|22.4|ft|m|disp=comma}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=21}}) wide, and {{convert|9.50|ft|m}} (or {{convert|9.6|ft|m|disp=comma}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=21}}) deep.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}} She had a gross register tonnage of 141 tons, and a net register tonnage of 112 tons.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=21}}
Chequamegon was powered by a {{convert|500|hp|lk=on|adj=on}} 145 rpm triple expansion steam engine, the cylinders of which had bores of {{convert|12|in|cm|1}}, {{convert|19|in|cm|1}} and {{convert|32|in|cm|1}}, and a stroke of {{convert|20|in|cm|1}}.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}} A single {{convert|10.5|by|11|ft|m|adj=on}} {{convert|175|psi|lk=on}} Scotch marine boiler supplied the engine with steam. The engine was manufactured in Montague, Michigan,{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2021}} by the Montague Iron Works, while her boiler was manufactured in Ferrysburg, Michigan, by the Johnson Brothers Company. A {{convert|7.5|ft|m|1|adj=on}} fixed-pitch propeller propelled her to a top speed of {{convert|18|mph|kn kph|1}}.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}}
Chequamegon had two decks, no mast, and a round stern.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=21}} At great expense, her cabins were fitted out with oak woodwork and upholstered furniture.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}}
=Service history=
Chequamegon was built for the Chequamegon Bay Transportation Company of Ashland, Wisconsin,{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=22}} who intended to use her as an excursion vessel between Ashland, Wisconsin, Bayfield, Wisconsin, Washburn, Wisconsin and Madeline Island. She was issued a temporary enrollment on June 13, 1903, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and on June 23, she was issued a permanent enrollment at Marquette, Michigan.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=23}} In the middle of September, her trips to Madeline Island were discontinued, and she was moved to Duluth, Minnesota, where she was fitted with a new propeller in order to improve her speed. She made excursions around the Apostle Islands on September 26 and 27, and October 10 and 11.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=23}} Scheduled to be moved to Milwaukee in 1904, she made her final trip on May 21, 1904, between Ashland and Washburn, arriving in Milwaukee the day after her final trip. In June of that same year, Chequamegon began transporting passengers from Milwaukee to Pabst's Whitefish Bay Resort. She was chartered by the Benton Transit Company of Benton Harbor, Michigan, in August 1904, and had bulwarks fitted to her lower deck.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=24}} During this time, she ran between Benton Harbor and Milwaukee. Chequamegon{{'}}s propeller was damaged on September 12, 1904, while she was inbound for Milwaukee.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=24}} When Louis A. Cartier, president of the Chequamegon Bay Transportation Company moved to Ludington, Michigan, she briefly hauled fruit towards the end of the shipping season, from Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan, to Milwaukee. Chequamegon resumed her trips for Pabst's Whitefish Bay Resort, briefly engaging in the fruit trade in September 1906.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=25}} On April 22, 1907, Chequamegon was sold to R. Floyd Clinch of Chicago, Illinois;{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}} her home port was changed to Chicago.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=26}} Chequamegon was transferred to Clinch's Traverse Bay Transportation Company in 1908.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=26}} In that same year, she was taken to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where she received a new {{convert|9.5|ft|m|1}} propeller, built by H.G. Trout & Company of Buffalo, New York. After receiving some additional repairs, she returned to her Charlevoix, Michigan – Traverse City, Michigan route. On August 18, 1909, Chequamegon{{'}}s cook, Sanford M. Silver drowned after falling overboard.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=27}}
In 1911, Chequamegon was sold to the Pere Marquette Line of Steamers. Her name was changed to Pere Marquette 7 on January 30.{{sfnp|Bowling Green State University|2010}}{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=27}} She ran between Chicago, Waukegan, Illinois, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Wisconsin and Port Washington, Wisconsin, carrying freight.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=28}} In April 1914, Pere Marquette 7 was overhauled and repainted in Sturgeon Bay.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=29}} In 1918, Pere Marquette 7 was sold to the Pringle Barge Line Company of Mentor, Ohio, and was renamed Robert C. Pringle. She was converted to a tugboat in Sandusky, Ohio, and had her home port changed to Fairport, Ohio.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=30}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=31}} She towed barges in the Lake Erie coal trade.{{sfnp|Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library|2020}} Briefly during her career, she was renamed Henry R. Heath.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=31}}
=Final voyage=
The Pringle Barge Line Company acquired the wooden bulk freighter Venezuela in 1922. As Venezuela required significant repairs, Robert C. Pringle was dispatched to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to tow Venezuela to Sandusky, Ohio, where the repairs were scheduled to be made. The vessels departed Milwaukee at around midnight on June 18, with Robert C. Pringle under the command of Captain Martin Oglesbee.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=32}} At around 2:00 a.m. on the following day, as Robert C. Pringle and Venezuela were passing Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Robert C. Pringle struck an obstruction (possibly floating driftwood), and began taking on water fast.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=32}} She sank in ten minutes, with all her crew being rescued by Venezuela, who dropped her crew off in Milwaukee.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=33}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin State Journal|1922}} Venezuela proceeded to Sandusky under her own steam. After she sank, there was speculation that Robert C. Pringle sank because of a weakness in her hull due to her age.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=33}}
''Robert C. Pringle'' wreck
The wreck of Robert C. Pringle was discovered in {{convert|300|ft|m|1}} of water by Steve Radovan in 2008.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=33}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}} Radovan had been searching for her since the 1970s, locating the wrecks of the schooners Floretta and Home in the process.{{sfnp|The Associated Press|2008}}{{sfnp|La Crosse Tribune|2008}} Her wreck is upright and was described by the Wisconsin Historical Society as "remarkably intact on a sand and silt covered lake bottom, with little damage or deterioration".{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=33}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}} Her pilothouse, along with the glass in four of its windows, remains in place.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=37}} The captain's cabin, located behind the pilothouse is also intact.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=39}} Robert C. Pringle{{'}}s triple expansion engine still has gold lettering on it.{{sfnp|Pioneer Press|2008}} In 2019, maritime archaeologists from the Wisconsin Historical Society partnered with Tom Crossmon's Crossmon Consulting LLC to conduct a thorough archaeological survey of the wreck.{{sfnp|Wisconsin Shipwrecks|2021}}{{sfnp|Wisconsin Historical Society|2020|p=34}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Sources
{{Refbegin|40em}}
- {{Cite web |author = Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library |year=2020 |title=Chequamegon (1903, Excursion Vessel) |url=https://greatlakeships.org/2904994/data?n=3 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library |location=Alpena, Michigan}}
- {{Cite web |author = Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library |year=2021 |title=Hunter (1877, Propeller) |url=https://greatlakeships.org/2893375/data?n=15 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library |location=Alpena, Michigan}}
- {{Cite web |author = Bowling Green State University |year=2010 |title=Chequamegon |url=https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/item/436724 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Bowling Green State University |location=Bowling Green, Ohio}}
- {{Cite web |author = La Crosse Tribune |year=2008 |title= Divers find shipwreck in Lake Michigan off Sheboygan coast |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/wi/divers-find-shipwreck-in-lake-michigan-off-sheboygan-coast/article_27d261dc-31dd-5206-acb6-40c41a0c29ec.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |publisher=La Crosse Tribune |location=La Crosse, Wisconsin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119230047/https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/wi/divers-find-shipwreck-in-lake-michigan-off-sheboygan-coast/article_27d261dc-31dd-5206-acb6-40c41a0c29ec.html |archive-date=January 19, 2021 }}
- {{Cite web |author = National Park Service |year=2020 |title=Weekly List – December 18, 2020 |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list-20201218.htm |access-date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=National Park Service |location=Washington D.C.}}
- {{Cite web |author = Pioneer Press |year = 2008 |title = Divers find shipwreck in Lake Michigan off Sheboygan coast |url = https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/19/divers-find-shipwreck-in-lake-michigan-off-sheboygan-coast/ |access-date = January 21, 2021 |publisher = St. Paul Pioneer Press |location = Saint Paul, Minnesota}}
- {{Cite web |author = The Associated Press |year = 2008 |title = Sheboygan, Wis. / Group finds shipwreck |url = https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/19/sheboygan-wis-group-finds-shipwreck/ |access-date = January 21, 2021 |publisher = St. Paul Pioneer Press |location = Saint Paul, Minnesota}}
- {{Cite web |author = Wisconsin Historical Society |year=2020 |title=Significance Through Obscurity: An Agglomeration of Wisconsin's Submerged Archaeological Sites |url=https://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Files/significance-through-obscurity.pdf |access-date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |location=Madison, Wisconsin}}
- {{Cite web |author = Wisconsin Shipwrecks |year=2021 |title=Robert C. Pringle (1903) |url=https://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Vessel/Details/534?region=Index |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=Wisconsin Shipwrecks |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |location=Madison, Wisconsin}}
- {{Cite web |author = Wisconsin State Journal |year=1922 |title=Ten Men Rescued From Lake Craft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67531938/ten-men-rescued-from-lake-craft/ |access-date=January 24, 2021 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |location=Madison, Wisconsin}}
{{refend}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- {{youTube|Q5A9jbimxgA|Robert C. Pringle Shipwreck, June 2008}}
{{1922 shipwrecks}}
{{NRHP Lake Michigan shipwrecks of Wisconsin|state=collapsed}}
{{Recreational dive sites|wresit}}
Category:Maritime incidents in 1922
Category:Tugboats on the Great Lakes
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Category:Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan
Category:Merchant ships of the United States
Category:2008 archaeological discoveries
Category:Shipwrecks of the Wisconsin coast