2025.36.02

Description of the John Gordon from "Built on the Banks of the Kalamazoo" by Kit Lane, 1993, pages 118-119: John Gordon # 76499 George P. Gilman of Chicago had several tugs built in various Saugatuck boatyards. The John Gordon, was constructed by John Martel during the winter of 1883-84 and in March her builder waited impatiently for the river to thaw so he could get the boat in the water. Her Chicago owner was so anxious to get the tug ready for action that he sent a representative from the Chicago firm of R. Tarrant to supervise the task of installing her engine so the vessel would be nearer to completion when launched. With determination she went into the water in mid March, the Saugatuck newspaper reported: "At four o'clock of Saturday afternoon the first launch of the season took place, and a good launch it proved to be. Martel was bound to launch and in order to do so, he had a gang of men cut the ice to make room for the boat. The ice and snow was nearly two feet in thickness along the dock, but that did not set John back a bit. 'She must go in,' he said, and in she went. The boat was named the John Gordon and is 80 feet long, 17 1/2 feet breadth of beam, and 9 1/2 feet depth of hold. Parties that claim to know say that she is a better boat than either the Paddy Murphy or the Bob Teed, and these two are now the pride of the Chicago River." With her machinery still incomplete the John Gordon was towed to Chicago by the steamer Douglas and was greeted with enthusiasm by the Chicago newspapers: "The propeller Douglas arrived in Chicago yesterday from Saugatuck on her maiden trip of the season. She towed over the hull of George Gilman's new tug, and the latter laid near Wells street during the day, and was much admired by all who saw her. The new craft is well and beautifully built, and reflects great credit on Mr. Martel her builder. Mr. Gilman is well satisfied with her and gave a little wine supper last evening in honor of her arrival. The machinery and boiler and the finishing touches will be furnished here in Chicago. The handsome colors on the new craft indicate her name to the be John Gordon. She is named in honor of the well-known agent of the Anchor Line of steamers here. Captain Charles McCarla will command her." The Chicago Times stated that Gilman liked the new tug so much that he gave an order to Martel for another just like it to be ready in July. On her first enrollment April 28, 1884, at Chicago, the John Gordon was listed as 51.67 gross tons, 25.68 net tons, 67.6 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 8.5 feet in depth. In mid-July the Chicago InterOcean carried a report on a tug race for the traditional broom. "There was a genuine old-time tug-race in the lake Monday between the O. B. Green and the John Gordon, which resulted in a victory for the last named tug. The Green has in the past carried the 'broom,' having proved herself to be the fastest tug Monday evening, while the boats were working slowly down the lake in search of tows, they came together and Capt. McCarla, of the Gordon, challenged the champion to a contest. The throttles of both boats were opened wide, and for the first half mile they kept side by side. Finally the Gordon began to pull ahead, but so gradually that for some time the gain could hardly be noticed. As her steam increased however, the gain was more rapid, and at the end of three miles she went across the Green's bow." On June 4, 1886, sale was recorded at Chicago to William J. McLoughlin of Chicago, with William Smith as master. Owners were changed in a new document dated August 6, 1886, which records William and Katherine Downs of Ashtabula, Ohio, each holding a one-half interest, as the new owners, and A. J. Moffat, master. This enrollment was surrendered August 21, 1886, at Cleveland, her new home district. In an 1897 insurance listing the John Gordon is listed as owned by the A. T. Line, Ashtabula, Ohio, valued at $6000 and rated A-2 1/2. The owner of record in 1900 was the Great Lakes Towing Co. of Cleveland. The vessel remained in Cleveland enrollment through 1904; she was dropped from the listings in 1905 and was probably abandoned.

NauticalTransportation: water

Winthers, Sally

08/26/2025

08/27/2025