Philip Becker
Ship stats
Depth:To be announced
Coordinates: To be announced
Vessel Type: Wooden tugboat, steam screw
Length: 48 feet
Breadth: 13 feet
Gross Tonnage: 29
Cargo: None
Built: 1876 by James LeRock at Buffalo, New York
Port of Registry at Loss: Buffalo, New York
Owner at Loss: Hickler Brothers, Buffalo, New York
Date Lost: November 18, 1879
Cause of Loss: Foundered in storm
Loss of Life: Reportedly 3 of 3 (lost aboard Gordon)
Historical Background
The wooden steam-powered tugboat, Philip Becker, was built in 1876 by James Lerock at Buffalo, New York. The tugboat was 48 feet in length, with a 13-foot beam and a 6-foot depth of hold, measuring 28 tons gross. Philip Becker was constructed for the Hickler Brothers of Buffalo, New York, being enrolled at Buffalo, New York, and assigned U.S. official number 150085.
On the afternoon of November 17, 1879, Philip Becker was upbound on the Upper St. Lawrence River, assisting a tow led by the tug Seymour of Ogdensburg, consisting of three dredges and 10 scows being towed one behind the other. Seymour was assisted in managing the tow by four smaller tugs, the Charles M. Riter, Algie O. Thayer, and Jonathan Hickler working alongside Philip Becker. Around 1:00 p.m. the tow departed Cape Vincent, with Captain Fleming of Seymour intending to make for Sackets Harbor. Around 4:30 p.m., Richard Arnold, partner in Hickler & Arnold, who was in charge of the fleet, transferred from Gordon to Philip Becker, running up alongside Seymour and directing the tow to make for Oswego.
At 8:00 p.m. while nearly mid-lake, the winds shifted to the northeast, increasing to a gale. By 8:45 p.m., many of the scows had broken their towing lines. Philip Becker ran alongside Gordon to inform them that the scows had broken loose. In coming alongside Gordon, Becker struck Gordon’s stern, inflicting damage which would cause Gordon to founder later that night. By 11:00 p.m. the tow was in sight of the Oswego Harbor Light, but with the towing lines to Gordon threatening to break loose, Seymour was forced to turn the tow downwind to alleviate the strain on the towing cables. Between midnight and 1:30 a.m., Philip Becker, which had been taking on water, came alongside Gordon, and its crew jumped aboard Gordon just as the tug foundered. Philip Becker’s crew, consisting of Captain George Palmer, and brothers William and Samuel Logan were all lost when Gordon foundered several hours later.
The wreck of the Philip Becker was discovered in July 2022 by local researchers Mr. Tim Caza and Mr. Dennis Gerber. In May 2025, the site was documented by NOAA and its partners at the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.
Wreck Site
A site photo model of the steambarge Adiramled. Credit: OECI/NOAA
The wreck of Philip Becker lies several miles off of Oswego, New York at depths beyond the limits of recreational diving (130 feet/30 meters), but accessible to technical divers. The wreck is intact and rests upright with a starboard list. The boiler house remains intact with the stack on its roof. The wheelhouse is broken apart but the ship’s wheel remains on deck amidst its wreckage. Other highlights of the site include an anchor, towing bitts, as well as the rudder and propeller.
