Bismarck

Chicago Tribune, December 21, 1870

To Be Built at Sheboygan.—Messrs. Tyson A. Robinson’s new tug is to be built at Sheboygan, by John Gregory. The contract calls for a vessel 150 feet in length over all, 24 feet beam, and 12½ feet hold, with upper works enclosed, and sleeping apartments back of the pilot-house on the promenade deck, The price to be paid for her is $13,000.

Bismarck
Pastel drawing by Wm. Huntington

Sheboygan Times, July 8, 1871

[Milwaukee, July 5th, 1871.]

Ed. Times:-The excursion trip, to-day, of the fine Tug Bismarck, built at your city, has suggested that it is almost time for me to again report myself as promised. I shall not attempt any description of the boat but leave that to those better posted in marine matters than I pretend to be, the marine reporters for the Wisconsin and News, of this city, being of the party, and the reporters of the Racine Advocate and Argus came on board at Racine. The presence of her builders, Messrs. Thayer and Gregory as members of the party, and the occasion itself, very naturally pointed much of the conversation towards your locality, and it was universally conceded that if Sheboygan will be true to herself and her public spirited men, which we outsiders know she has not been in the past, a bright future is before her. The Northern Railroad men are really in earnest in their deternination to cut your county in two, and one of the strong reasons given for it was, to retain the ship building interests, insurance mon being determined to send their repairing business to other ports. I understood that Mr. Thayer had two large jobs offered him to-day, but he holds them open until your Dry Dock enterprise shall be decided.

The project of building a Lake Shore Rail Road from this city to Chicago is being pushed forward as though it was really intended, but those in the secret understand that if the Chicago & North Western Railway Co. will abandon their project of building a road from Janesville through Waukesha thence northward, thus cutting off Milwaukee and effectually penning them up in a corner, then the new Lake Shore Road from here to Chicago will be given up.

Yours,
Semi-Occasional.

Sheboygan Times, July 8, 1871

[From the Evening Wisconsin, July 6.]
Trial Trip of the New Tug Bismarck.
Yesterday, upon invitation extended by Mark S. Tyson, of the firm of Tyson & Robinson, about fifty of our leading citizens embarked on the large new tug Bismarck, just completed, for the purpose of witnessing her trial trip. Previous to starting, the party spent an hour in making a thorough examination of the boat. Her handsome model and faultless lines were the admiration of all, and there seems to be but one sentiment in regard to her, namely, that she is the finest tug afloat upon fresh water. In this opinion, it would probably be well here to state, they are fully sustained by men of experience in such matters.

The Barge Line.
The Bismarck was built by Messrs. Tyson & Robinson to tow barges, of which they will soon have four in commission. Three of these barges are now, and of the same size, and have carrying capacity for 400,000 feet of lumber each. They are named the D. W. Filer, Emma E. Tyson, and Eva L. Robinson. The hull of the propeller Equator is to be rebuilt immediately, and converted into a barge for the line, which will then be complete. Her carrying capacity is estimated at 550,000 feet. The employment of barges is not an experiment. They have been used with great success upon the lower lakes for many years past, and are increasing in numbers so rapidly as to threaten to drive sailing vessels entirely out of the business. Several barge lines have been in operation on this lake for the last six years, with, we believe, an equal measure of success. Messrs. Tyson & Robison are therefore tolerably certain of remunerative returns upon their investment in the business, which will amount to upwards of $100,000.

The Bismarck.
The hull of the Bismarck was constructed the present spring at Sheboygan, by the Dry Dock Company of that place, under the superintendence of Mr. John Gregory, of Chicago, who designed the model.—Were not Mr. Gregory’s reputation as a marine architect already well established, this masterpiece of his handiwork would, of itself, be sufficient to make one for him. The dimensions of the boat are:

Length of keel 138 feet—over all, 151 feet 6 inches; breadth of beam at load line, 24 feet; depth of hold at lowest transverse section or dead flat, 13 feet.

The following are the minimum sizes of the different timbers forming the hull:

Keel moulded 10 inches, sided 13 inches; stem same as keel: stern-post sided at heel 13 inches, at head 16 inches keelson, sided and moulded, 14 inches; frames moulded at heel 13 inches, at bilge 11 inches, at heads 6½ inches, sided 11 inches; ceiling on flat of floor 3 inches, from lower bilge strakes to top of clamps 6 inches thick all—strakes being scarfed and keyed and fastened throughout with two bolt und two spikes in each frame, also edge-bolted where practicable.

Outside plank from bilge to gunwale 4 inches thick, bottom 3 inches; breadth of strakes 6 inches on top. All of the outside plank are squared, fastened, and butt-bolt-ed. The deck beams are sided 11 inches, moulded 12 inches, at centres 8 inches, at ends 7 inches; distance between bears 30 inches. Each bear has one lodging and one hanging knee at the ends, through fastened. The timber used in the hall is the very best white oak of second growth. Every precaution has been taken to secure them against decay, the principal agent adopted for this purpose being salt, of which large quantities were used.

We doubt very much if there is another tug upon the lakes possessing as large and convenient or better arranged accommodations than the Bismarck. The cabin located in the stern of the boat, below the main deck, is 28 feet long, 13 feet wide, and 7½ feet high. It contains two staterooms 9×9, and twelve open berths, which are supplied with the best of mattresses and coverlets. The berths are hung with rep curtains, and ornamented with gilt cornices. The cabin floor is inlaid with black walnut and white maple, a circular saw, also the name of the boat and firm name, being dexterously wrought in it with. the same material. The kitchen and pantry, which challenge comparison; adjoin the cabin forward, into which they open. Their length is 9 feet, and combined width 21 feet. Off the pantry, in the cabin, is a small room for glass ware. In the rear of the cabin are a store room, water closets, etc. In the bow of the boat, on the main deck, are rooms for the deck hands, firemen and porter. Abaft the pilot house, on the hurricane deck, is a texas which contains rooms for the captain, mates and wheelsmen, also an extra room for the accommodations of guests. The captain’s and the spare room are 7×11 feet in size, and furnished in elegant style.—The size of the rooms for the mates and wheelsmen is 6×5½.

All of the rooms in the texas; as well as in the cabin below, are supplied with water the same as in a first class hotel, the supply being obtained from tanks, placed under the hurricane deck, which are filled with lake water by force pumps. From this description it will be seen that Messrs. Tyson & Robinson have spared no pains to secure the comfort of those on board the tug, as well as of the passengers who may cross the lake in her.

The engine is a low-pressure oscillator, with 42-inch cylinder and 36-inch stroke. With a fall head of steam it attains 300 horse pawer. This engine was formerly in the propeller Equator, but has been thoroughly refitted throughout at a heavy expense, and is once more as good as new. The size of the boiler in 10×19 feet. It is capable of furnishing an abundance of steam for all emergencies. There are also two handsome force pumps in the engine room, for fire and other purposes.

The Bismarck is intended for towing alone. She is supplied with the latest improvements in the way of capstans and other light machinery. The joiner work on the boat was done under the supervision of Edward McGraw, of Chicago», who made an excellent job of it. The machinery was put up by Messrs. Andrew Lanahan and Chas. Rees; the steam heating apparatus and water pipes by M. M. Leehy; the steam pipes connected with the engine by B. W. Felthausen. The painting was done by T. P. Collingbourne.—The engine was refitted at the establishment of M. W. Stowell & Co. The handsome eagle, also the fine specimens of carving upon the stem and stern, are the work of Gustav Haug, of this city, one of the best artists in the West.

The Trial Trip.
Shortly before noon the lines were cast off, and the Bismarck steamed out into the lake. Her progress at first was necessarily slow, owing to the danger of heating the journals of the engine. As it was, several stoppages were rendered necessary from this cause. When off Oak Creek tables were spread on the cabin deck aft, and the party sat down to a collation worthy of the host and the occasion. Dinner over, a meeting was organized by the election of Moritz Schoeffler as President and Louis Bleyer Secretary. On motion, the Chairman appointed a committee of five, consisting of Messrs. Black, Carey, Thorson, P. Burnham and Thos L. Ogden, to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. After a brief absence the committee reported the following, which were adopted by acclamation:

Resolved, That for the generosity, and hospitable trip afforded to us by Mark S. Tyson, on the new tug Bismarck, and for the kindness shown us by Capt. D. Cochrane and the officers and crow, we tender our grateful thanks, with the assurance that the event will always prove a bright spot in our recollections.

Resolved, That we look with pride on the energy which has built the steamer and the barges connected with the enterprise, and regard it as an evidence of what Milwaukee businsss capacity can do; and we will watch with pride and hope the future career of the Bismarck and her enterprising owners.

The meeting over, the party dispersed in groups, to enjoy the beautiful day and delightful ride. A plentiful supply of liquid refreshments, particularly lager, also of cigars, added greatly to the zest of the occasion. The jokes perpetrated upon a faithful follower of the great Bismarck, by some of his friends, also tended to keep the company in mirthful mood. Towards evening the tug steamed into Racine harbor, where we remained nearly an hour. Shortly before six o’clock the whistle recalled those who had stayed up town, and we started on our return trip, reaching Milwaukee shortly after nine P. M. During a portion of the homeward run the engine attained a speed of eighty revolutions a minute, and we were bowled along at the rate of fourteen miles an hour. One incident of the day’s doings must not be omitted: A sum of money was collected and enclosed in a champagne bottle, together with a copy of the constitution and bye-laws of the Knights of Pythias, and some business cards; also a note requesting the finder to donate one-half of the money to an orphan asylum. This done, one of the gentlemen made a feeling speech, and consigned the bottle to the waters of the lake.

After the party had landed, another meeting was called, at which Messrs. Deuster, Snyder, Bagnall, Collingbourne and Schoeffler were appointed a committee to make arrangements for an excursion by a party of our business men to Manistee, upon the Bismarck, at an early day.

The Officers of the Tug.
The officers of the tug won the good opinion of all by their gentlemanly and courteous demeanor. The following is a list:

Captain Cochrane is well known along the entire chain of lakes as an excellent sailor and whole souled gentleman. That he has given satisfaction to Messrs. Tyson & Robinson, in whose employ he has beon for a number of years past, is evident from his promotion to this command.

Daily Milwaukee News, July 9, 1871

Business Prosperity.—A marked instance of success in particular line of business is seen in that achieved by Messrs. Tyson & Robinson, two Milwaukee men, who are operating in the manufacture and. sale of lumber, with three large mills at Manistee, Michigan, shipping their products to this city and Chicago. Such is the amount of lumber turned out in a day, that the ordinary method of shipping by chartered schooners has been proved inadequate to keep the mill yards clear and the company have built four barges to take tbe lumber away to tow these they have built the mammoth tug Bismarck, which lately made ita trial trip, and so thoroughly proved itself what is was intended to be, the most powerful, the largest and most reliable, as mell as the most elegantly modeled and adorned tug that ever graced the waters of the great lakes. The princely hospitality extended by Mr. Tyson to the invited guests who attended the trial trip, showed him to be a gentleman of large heart, and an acquaintance with his partner, Geo. W Robinson, of Manistee,-and. the agreeable. recollections in the mind of the writer, of courtesies extended by each of these gentlemen, makes patent the fact the fortune installed on the right men this time. May this giant tog ever float securely, in storm and calm, and repay ten fold the commendable enterprise which has placed her in service.

Chicago Tribune, July 12, 1871

NEW TUG.—The splendid new tug, Bismarck, of which so much has been said, arrived in car harbor on yesterday, having in tow thew barge D. L. Filer (U.S. 35311), freighted with 350,000 feet of lumber from Manistee. The Bismark was built at Sheboygan by the well-known shipbuilder John Gregory, and was launched last month. She is the property of Messrs. Tyson & Robinson, of Manistee, who intend to employ her to wing their barges—the D. L. Filer, Emma, E. Tyson, and Ewa L. Robinson—blew in this port and Manistee. The following figures show her dimensions:

Length over all, 151 feet 6 inches; length of keel, 138 feet; depth of hold, in shortest place, 19 feet; breadth of beam, 24 feet; measures 91-103 tons, new enrollment, and cost $40,000.

The Bismark can also be employed in the passenger trade, accommodating in the neighborhood of seventy passengers. She has a fine low-pressure oscillating engine, 43×36 inches. The Bismark is commanded by Von Bi-mark David Cochrane, a navigator of large experience. Bon voyage.

Racine County Argus, July 8, 1871

Tug Bismarck.-This splendid craft made a trial trip last. Wednesday from Milwaukee to this port. She is probably the largest tug on the lakes, being 151 feet over all, 24 feet beam and 12 feet hold, with an engine of 172 horse power. She is designed for towing barges from the mills of her owners—Messrs. Tyson & Robinson-in Manistee. Her officers are D. Cochrane, one of uour jolly, always happy sailors, captain; Niel Chatterson, first mate; Andrew Lanigan, first engineer. She was built by Thayer, of Sheboygan, and the work superintended by Mr. Gregory. Her attachments are all of the most modern and improved styles, and make her one of the most convenient and handsome boats afloat. As we are about going to press we are denied the pleasure of giving as thorough a description of her as we would like. Among the excursionists were Messrs. Tyson, Ludington, Durand, (brother of Mr. I. S. Durand, of Racine,) Deuster, Bleyer, assistant editor Daily Wisconsin, Chappell, correspondent Daily News, Thayer, and many others.

A Sheboygan, Wisconsin newspaper reported that the launch of a new 140 foot tug named the Bismarck was so significant that the city declared the day an official holiday. It was built by John Gregory and Alfred Stokes in 1871 for Mark J. Tyson of Milwaukee and George W. Robinson of Mainstee, Michigan. The Bismark (US No. 2767) was one of the largest tugs to sail the Great Lakes. The tug was originally 285 gross tons and her dimensions were 147 feet long, a beam of 24 feet and 12 feet depth. It was renamed Justice Field in 1884, Traveller (Canada No. 111930) in fall of 1889 or the spring of 1890 and finally to G.R. Gray in 1921.

The engine was originally in Equator (US No. 7233), which stranded on North Manitou Island in a heavy storm on 17 November 1869, and was rebuilt into the barge Eldorado (US No. 135117) in 1871 at Milwaukee.

Chicago Tribune, October 10, 1872

Messrs. Tyson & Robinson, of Milwaukee, sold to N. Ludington, of Chicago, on Monday, the tug Bismarck, and the barges Eldorado, Emma Tyson, Eva S. Robinson (US No. 36462), and D. L. Filer (US No. I 35311), for the sum of $9,000. They are A. No. 1 vessels, the four barges having been built last spring at Milwaukee; the tug has been in service two years. The vessels hereafter will engage in the lumber trade between Chicago and ports of Lake Michigan.

Chicago Tribune, October 6, 1880

The Menominee Barge Line Company intend to dispose of the tug Bismarck after the close of navigation, and supply her place next spring with an entirely new, larger, and more powerful craft, one that will be capable of towing a fleet carrying upwards of 2,000,000 feet of lumber. The business of the Barge Line Company has increased to such enormous proportions as to demand a larger tug. No details have yet been arranged. Indeed the fact that a change is in prospect has only just leaked out.

Inter Ocean, June 8, 1881

THE BISMARCK’S “BAZOO.”
And the Citizen’s Committee.
When tugs with two, three, and four monster barges are stringing beind them (the craft being 150 and 200 feet apart) are proceeding along on the lake at night, especially during foggy weather, there is great danger of other steamers and vessels colliding with them, or attempting to pass between them. A judgement of about to $15,000 has just been given the owner of the schooner Grace Channon for the sinking by collision with the tug Favorite, under these circumstances. Captain Perrett, of the tug Bismarck, has avoided such accidents by using a peculiar whistle, which all our lake craft have come to know. It is of that “Modoo yell” style, like the harbor tug O. B. Green used to have, often called the “trombone,” the “telephone,” and the “screecher.” The Bismarck seldom uses it in the harbor here, and it is a great protection to her and her barges, as well as other craft on her trips between Chicago and Green Bay. Yesterday Captain Perrett was cooly notified by the Citizens’ Committee of Chicago that he must no longer use this peculiar whistle, and he, just as cooly, says he shall continue to use it just so long as he sees fit.

The captain adds that he hopes the Citizens’ Committee will see that the Bismarck’s barges do not lie (as they do now) where they blockade the North channel of Rush street bridge. The owners of this barge line have asked for the privilege of lying at the government pier, but it has been refused.

A great deal of tug whistling in the North Branch might be avoided by the harbor tugs if the Citizens’ Committee were to see that the bridge-tenders are on watch nights and awake.

Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1884

The Menominee Barge Line sold the tug Bismarck to H. G. Blanchard, of Detroit, for $11,000.

Chicago Tribune, May 20, 1884

The tug Bismarck, a propellor of 286 tons burthen, lately bought of the Marinette Barge Line by H. G. Blanchard, of Detroit, has just made her first trip to Tonawanda with her consorts F. M. Dickenson, Emerald, and Little May.

Detroit Free Press, April 1, 1884

Capt. H. G. Blanchard will bring his tug Bismarck from Chicago as soon as the ice is all out of the straits. She will be employed in the Saginaw lumber trade.

On July 16, 1884, she was renamed Justice Field.

Justice Field
1884
Duluth, Minnesota

Buffalo Commercial, August 2, 1890

The Marquette Mining Journal says:

The tugs Justice Field and Smith started Wednesday for Bay City with what is believed to be the largest raft of logs ever taken from this part of the Lake Superior region, The raft contains 5,000,000 feet, and is towed in a huge boom. The logs are owned by John C. Brown, and were cut up the Percheekie River, driven to Lake Michigamme, and brought thence by rail. The raft contains a fine lot of logs, but the air along the St. Mary’s River will be blue with expressions theological, but not orthodox when it goes through. If there is anything the average vesselman naturally fears, hates and despises, it is a raft.

Port Huron Daily Times, April 15, 1891

At Bay City, the Saginaw Bay Towing Association are giving their tug Justice Field a general rebuild. She will in the future be known as the Traveler.

Buffalo Morning Express, July 10, 1891

The name of the tug Justice Field will be changed to Traveler as soon as the papers reach port from Washington. She has gone to Marquette after a raft for F. E. Bradley & Co. Her owners ought to wait a week, afterward, and then change it again. Her original name, it will be remembered, was Bismarck.

Racine Daily Journal, June 2, 1892

Inland Lloyd’s supplement for June makes record of ratings and values of steamers as noted as follows:
Tug Traveler, formerly Bismarck and then Chief Justice Field, A1½, $28,000.

Traveller
July 2 1894

Traveler and Menodora
About 1901

Buffalo Commercial, April 11, 1902

Tug Traveler Sold.
Special to The Commercial.
Bay City, April 11.—Capt. B. Boutell has sold the tug Traveler to James Playfair of Midland, Ont., who will use the boat in connection with his lumber business. Capt. Boutell has also sold the tug Ella Smith to the Buffalo Dredging Co. of Buffalo.

Aberdeen Herald, August 2, 1902

The tug Traveler has been lying at the ship yard for the week, where she is being overhauled. A new deck is being put on, and all worn out places renewed.

Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1906
A contract has been received by the Midland Towing & Wrecking Co., of Midland, Ont.. from the Canadian government, authorizing the company to remove the barge Tasmania from the path of vessels in Lake Erie.

The big tug Traveler (US No. 75598) stopped here yesterday, with enough dynamite aboard to blow the wrecked barge into smithereens. Those along the river front who knew what constituted the! tug’s cargo were nervous.

The Tasmania was a Corrigan boat, and was lost in one of the big gales of last fall, with her crew of eight men, The vessel and her cargo were valued at $17,000.

The wreck is supposed to lie three miles southwest of the Southeast shoal lightship. The Tasmania was in tow of the steamer Bulgaria when she foundered.

Tacoma Daily Ledger, November 14, 1906

Tug Traveler Barbound.
Hoquiam,, Nov. 18.—The tug Traveler, in command of Captain Sneider, is bar-bound here awaiting favorable weather to leave on her way for the Coquille river, where she will be used for towing lumber barges to San Francisco.

Traveler
1915

Port Huron Times Herald, April 12, 1915

Has New Position.
Capt. F. B. Ely, who has formerly been in the employ of the Reid Wrecking company, has entered the services of the Russel Timber company of Port Arthur, and will command the tug Traveler.

Traveler
Western Dry Dock Yard, Port Arthur, ONT
1915-1917

The Montreal Gazette, May 24, 1921

TUG COST $200,000
G. R. Gray Carries Wireless Equipment
Toronto, May 23.-Built at a cost of $200,000, the tug G. R. Gray, with engines and boilers of the most modern type, and carrying wireless equipment, left this city tonight for Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., where she is to be turned over to her owners, the Spanish River Pulp & Paper Company The vessel, which is 151 feet over all, 24 feet beam, 14 feet molded depth, was built by the Toronto Dry Dock Company here. Captain T. I. Ganley is in command of the tug, and at the “Soo” he will turn it over to Captain J. L. Ramsay.

The G. R. Gray is named after the manager of the wood department of the Spanish River Company. It will be used in towing pulpwood to the company’s mills.

Sault Daily Star, August 23, 1926
Michipicoten Harbor, Aug. 19.-The Prairie Club, of Chicago, are enjoying the fishing and bathing of Michipicoten.

The Tug, G. R. Gray, left Wednesday with a raft of over 7,000 cords of pulp wood, the largest raft that has been towed down the lake this season.

The Tug, Commodore returned from Brule Harbor, Saturday, after rounding up a raft for Tug Gargantua.

Nig Gerard, chief engineer on Tug Commodore, works with his sleeves rolled up. Wonder if that new wrist watch is the reason.

One of the historic tugs like the Sampson is the tug G. R. Gray, which fine craft is shown with a big tow of pulp wood logs. She plies between the lower Soo River and Saulte Ste. Marie, Ontario. She was formerly the renowned Traveller.

Sault Star, June 22, 1936

The paper mill tug G. R. Gray, is again in service according to word at the mill this morning after an inspection trip to Midland recently. The entire mill fleet is operating at the present time, the mill reported.

Sault Daily Star, December 24, 1941 (Excerpt)

“We were on Beacher Island (Lake Superior), or at least some of us, from Wednesday until Monday when the tug G. R. Gray picked us up. We had only been sheltered by brush windbreaks and the chief engineer, who was in charge of doling out the food, gave us two cups of rolled oats twice a day.

“With the arrival of the tug the crew was taken to Agawa Bay and to the Boissineau camps from where they walked to the railway the following day to entrain by A.C.R. for the Soo, which they reached on Dec. 19.”

Sault Daily Star, July 29, 1946

Waterfront strollers on Saturday night, heat dodgers, ex-sailors and small boys—did some wistful and admiring staring at two of the smartest yachts that have tied up at the C.P.R. docks this season.

The one was a 54-foot yawl with a name to match its appearance—the Evening Star of Grosse Pointe, Michigan; the other a diesel-powered cabin cruiser from Chicago, the Nautilus. The Nautilus is the last word in luxurious marine transportation, but the sailing vessel was the centre of attraction. The tall mainmast of the Evening Star could he seen from almost anywhere in the east end of the city.

On the other side of the dock were the powerful paper company tugs, the Magpie and the Abitibi. On the west side of the dock, too, continuing in retirement, is that tired old veteran the G. R. Gray.

G. R. Gray and Commodore
Thesalon, Ontario
1945

G. R. Gray and Commodore
Thesalon, Ontario
1948

The G.R. Gray was last listed in Lloyd’s Register in 1959, however the tug was last operated in 1943, then laid up at Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, until 1947, when she was removed to Thessalon, Ontario and abandoned at a boneyard.

Vessel History

Justice Field

Traveller

G. R. Gray

Owner History:

G. R. Gray

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