River Queen (Propeller), fire, 15 May 1877

Yesterday the tug RIVER QUEEN burned while coming down the St. Clair River abreast of this city. The schooner BRIDGEWATER, her tow, set the alarm and the tugs MOCKING BIRD; J. SMITH and J.H. MARTIN came to her assistance. With their help the damage to the tug was kept at $1,000, which was fully covered by insurance. She was towed to this side and pumped out during the afternoon.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Monday, may 14, 1877



      At Port Huron Sunday, the tug RIVER QUEEN, while towing the schooner BRIDGEWATER, caught fire over her boiler and was badly damaged. Her deck and upper works off of the captain's room were entirely destroyed. The loss is estimated at $1,000. The tug was owned by Capt. S. Grummond and Martin Swain, of this city, and valued at $10,000. She was insured for $3,500 in the Detroit Fire & Marine Insurance Co., of this place. Capt. Thos. Allen and Maurice Barrett, of the RIVER QUEEN, were both slightly burned around the face.
      Detroit Free Press
      May 15, 1877



      Port Huron. May 12 - The tug RIVER QUEEN, while towing the schr. BRIDGEWATER inside this morning, caught fire over her boiler. The flames were soon under good headway, and were discovered from the shore previous to their discovery on the tug. So rapid were their progress that they drove the crew to each end of the boat. The tug MOCKING BIRD went to her relief, and with her pony engine rendering good assistance. The tug ANDREW J. SMITH, discovering the peril of the crew, started from the dock here, and soon had a stream from her hose playing upon the burning tug. The tug J.H. MARTIN was also on hand rendering assistance. Several yawls, manned by crews from vessels lying in the stream, were soon alongside the burning wreck and took off the crew. The MARTIN towed her to Sarnia, where a stream from the water works soon subdued the flames. Capt. Thomas Allen was slightly burned around the face, while Maurice Barrett suffered likewise. The damage will probably be around a $1,000. The tug's upper works were entirely consumed.
      Cleveland Herald
      May 14, 1877



The tug WINSLOW towed down the Grummond tug RIVER QUEEN to Detroit today.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Wednesday, May 16, 1877