History

The Cormorant was built in 1941 by the Rand & Burger Boat Company (Mantitowoc, WI) for the US Coast Guard under the name D.D.A. 43 (Official Number 240399). The single shaft steel tugboat, weighing 18 gross tons, was 43’ in length with a 12’ beam and 5’ depth.¹ In 1949, D.D.A. 43 was purchased by the Newton Creek Towing Company, who renamed her the Russell 4. While little is known about her service between 1949-1958, she was certainly purchased during this time by Merritt, Chapman & Scott, and renamed the Cormorant.²
On the 16th of October, 1958, she departed from the St. Lawrence river, where she had been assisting in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Headed for New York City via the Oswego and Erie Canal, the Cormorant was crewed by the 29 year old Captain Lon Prophett and the 30 year old Ernest Brunett, both of whom resided in Ogdensburg, NY.³ Along the route, the crew picked up a tractor tire and wooden board,⁴ which would ultimately prove useful. That afternoon, a storm caused the tug to founder and sink in approximately 9-12 foot waves around 5:30 PM.⁵ While the US Merchant Vessel List of 1959 stated the tug sank on the 17th,⁶ no other evidence supports this claim. By constructing a raft from the tire, wooden board, and innertube, the crew was able to remain afloat for 18 hours. Reportedly, a rabbit hunter by the name of Melvin Coe heard the crew's cries for help at around 11:30 AM on the 17th, and followed the raft along the shore for 2 hours until he was able to rescue them, reportedly via rowboat. In total, the men remained on the raft for 20 hours. Coe drove the men to the Oswego hospital where they were treated for shock and exposure (likely hypothermia). Despite these circumstances, both men survived and were discharged the next day, October 18th.⁷

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