Service History
The
William J. Livingstone Jr. was "a river and lake tug used in towing vessels in the rivers. In 1878 bought by the Pestigo Co., Pestigo, and used in towing their lumber barges between Peshtigo and Chicago until she foundered on October 4, 1880."
Last Document Surrendered Milwaukee 6/30/1881: "Total Loss"
Final Voyage
"The tug
William J. Livingstone Jr. sank in 43 fathoms off Cana Island on 10/4/1880 while enroute to Pestigo WI, towing the barges
Mauntee and
Advance. At about 12:15 off Cana Island, the tug's engine stopped working, and upon examination the vessel's mainshaft, sternpipe and deadwood were found to be broken, and the tug rapidly taking on water. At 3 pm the tug's fires were put out by the rising water and the crew transferred to the barge
Mauntee. The
Livingstone's master at this point switched the towline to the
Mauntee's stern in hopes of using the barge's sails to tow the crippled tug to safety.
By 3:30 the tug
Favorite arrived on the scene and took both the
Livingstone and the
Mauntee in tow, but the
Livingstone soon sunk."
Today
There was some talk about dragging the the sunken
Livingstone to shallow water, raising her and repairing her, but apparently nothing came of it.