Vessels of the Great Lakes:
Nineteenth Century Steamship Michigan
The first real steamship built at Detroit in 1847 was the Michigan, a 156-foot-long vessel propelled by duel engines working wheels on both sides. It was an early design for steamships, and the fact that the two wheels were powered by separate engines sometimes created problems. While the arrangement worked well in calm weather, when the vessel was rolling in high seas and stormy weather, the raising of one wheel out of the water while the other was laboring in deep water caused the boat to lurch and jerk from side-to-side. Passengers and crew members had to hang on for dear life.
The first real steamship built at Detroit in 1847 was the Michigan, a 156-foot-long vessel propelled by duel engines working wheels on both sides. It was an early design for steamships, and the fact that the two wheels were powered by separate engines sometimes created problems. While the arrangement worked well in calm weather, when the vessel was rolling in high seas and stormy weather, the raising of one wheel out of the water while the other was laboring in deep water caused the boat to lurch and jerk from side-to-side. Passengers and crew members had to hang on for dear life.
Deadly Fire Claimed The Northern Indiana
At 300 feet in length, the side wheeled steamship Northern Indiana was an impressive vessel in its day and it obviously made a dramatic sight when it burned to destruction, claiming an estimated 28 lives, off Lake Erie’s Point Pelee on July 17, 1856. The steamer, under the temporary command of the ship’s first mate, W. H. Wetmore, had just made its way down the Detroit River and entered the broad waters of Lake Erie, bound for Toledo, when fire broke out in the engine room sometime around 11 a.m.
At 300 feet in length, the side wheeled steamship Northern Indiana was an impressive vessel in its day and it obviously made a dramatic sight when it burned to destruction, claiming an estimated 28 lives, off Lake Erie’s Point Pelee on July 17, 1856. The steamer, under the temporary command of the ship’s first mate, W. H. Wetmore, had just made its way down the Detroit River and entered the broad waters of Lake Erie, bound for Toledo, when fire broke out in the engine room sometime around 11 a.m.
Death Ship Wisconsin
In its 48-year history, the thousand-ton propeller Wisconsin was a ship fraught with disaster and strange contrasts. The vessel burned off Grand Haven on May 21, 1907, with the loss of five lives, and it took another 16 lives when it sank on Oct. 29, 1929. Yet during World War I, as the Crosby, the ship was used on the Atlantic coast as a hospital convalescent facility at New York and may have been regarded as a lifesaver. In those days, however, the soldiers probably did not regard it as a place they wanted to be.
In its 48-year history, the thousand-ton propeller Wisconsin was a ship fraught with disaster and strange contrasts. The vessel burned off Grand Haven on May 21, 1907, with the loss of five lives, and it took another 16 lives when it sank on Oct. 29, 1929. Yet during World War I, as the Crosby, the ship was used on the Atlantic coast as a hospital convalescent facility at New York and may have been regarded as a lifesaver. In those days, however, the soldiers probably did not regard it as a place they wanted to be.
The Ohio
Steamer Ohio and Barge Ironton Sunk In 1894 Collision
Five Great Lakes sailors drowned after their vessel, the schooner-barge Ironton, collided with the bulk carrier Ohio off Lake Huron’s Presque Isle in rough seas in the wee morning hours of September 26, 1894. The Ohio, a 202-foot, wooden steamship owned by C. W. Erphicke & Co. of Chicago, was struck broadside by the coal-laden 191-foot Ironton at around 12:30 a.m. A report in a Decatur newspaper stated that the schooner’s prow sliced into the Ohio abreast of the boiler house, opening a 200-square-foot hole to the water’s edge. The 19-year-old steamer settled and sank within 30 minutes in about 200 feet of water.
Five Great Lakes sailors drowned after their vessel, the schooner-barge Ironton, collided with the bulk carrier Ohio off Lake Huron’s Presque Isle in rough seas in the wee morning hours of September 26, 1894. The Ohio, a 202-foot, wooden steamship owned by C. W. Erphicke & Co. of Chicago, was struck broadside by the coal-laden 191-foot Ironton at around 12:30 a.m. A report in a Decatur newspaper stated that the schooner’s prow sliced into the Ohio abreast of the boiler house, opening a 200-square-foot hole to the water’s edge. The 19-year-old steamer settled and sank within 30 minutes in about 200 feet of water.
The Burning Of The Noronic
Sanford Newman, a Cleveland man participating in a special August excursion aboard the Great Lakes passenger liner Noronic on Sept. 16, 1949, later said he thought it was about 2:30 a.m. when the fire that destroyed the ship was discovered. Newman and his wife were among the 524 passengers taking advantage of a special late-season rate on the Canada Steamship Line vessel. While other passengers were partying, the Newmans and friends were engaged in a hot game of cards in a parlor on C Deck, somewhere amidships. The ship was docked at Toronto for the night.
Sanford Newman, a Cleveland man participating in a special August excursion aboard the Great Lakes passenger liner Noronic on Sept. 16, 1949, later said he thought it was about 2:30 a.m. when the fire that destroyed the ship was discovered. Newman and his wife were among the 524 passengers taking advantage of a special late-season rate on the Canada Steamship Line vessel. While other passengers were partying, the Newmans and friends were engaged in a hot game of cards in a parlor on C Deck, somewhere amidships. The ship was docked at Toronto for the night.
Scrap Yard Looms for Arthur M. Anderson?
There is a rumor among Great Lakes vessel enthusiasts that the venerable ore carrier Arthur M. Anderson may soon be retired. Indeed, while we could find no official word, this 66-year-old freighter today remains among the last of the U. S. Steel Company’s fleet of vessels operating on the lakes. The Arthur Anderson’s claim to fame was that it survived the Lake Superior storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. In fact, it was traveling with the Fitzgerald, both ships laden with ore and steaming hard for the safety of Whitefish Point when the Fitzgerald disappeared in a snow squall.
There is a rumor among Great Lakes vessel enthusiasts that the venerable ore carrier Arthur M. Anderson may soon be retired. Indeed, while we could find no official word, this 66-year-old freighter today remains among the last of the U. S. Steel Company’s fleet of vessels operating on the lakes. The Arthur Anderson’s claim to fame was that it survived the Lake Superior storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. In fact, it was traveling with the Fitzgerald, both ships laden with ore and steaming hard for the safety of Whitefish Point when the Fitzgerald disappeared in a snow squall.
Three Brothers Slammed Into An Island
The aging lumber hooker Three Brothers wrecked during a Lake Michigan storm on Sept. 27, 1911, while steaming from Boyne City to Chicago with a cargo of hardwood. The 162-foot-long wooden vessel, under the command of Capt. Sam Christopher, began to leak shortly after leaving Boyne City. The leak worsened as the day progressed until the water overwhelmed the ship’s bilge pumps. It was while racing toward a more distant shore that the Three Brothers hard aground on South Manitou Island. The old boat literally plowed into the shoreline about 200 yards east of the live saving station. The crash split the ship’s bow open and dislodged the pilot house from the superstructure.
The aging lumber hooker Three Brothers wrecked during a Lake Michigan storm on Sept. 27, 1911, while steaming from Boyne City to Chicago with a cargo of hardwood. The 162-foot-long wooden vessel, under the command of Capt. Sam Christopher, began to leak shortly after leaving Boyne City. The leak worsened as the day progressed until the water overwhelmed the ship’s bilge pumps. It was while racing toward a more distant shore that the Three Brothers hard aground on South Manitou Island. The old boat literally plowed into the shoreline about 200 yards east of the live saving station. The crash split the ship’s bow open and dislodged the pilot house from the superstructure.
The Sinking Of The St. Peter
Captain John Griffin was the sole survivor after his ship, the three-mast schooner St. Peter foundered in a Lake Ontario storm on October 27, 1898. Griffin’s wife and the ship’s crew of eight others were lost with the schooner. The 135-foot vessel was sailing from Oswego, New York to Toledo, Ohio with 700 tons of coal when it encountered a fierce early winter blizzard as it was approaching the Welland Canal. The ship never made it.
Captain John Griffin was the sole survivor after his ship, the three-mast schooner St. Peter foundered in a Lake Ontario storm on October 27, 1898. Griffin’s wife and the ship’s crew of eight others were lost with the schooner. The 135-foot vessel was sailing from Oswego, New York to Toledo, Ohio with 700 tons of coal when it encountered a fierce early winter blizzard as it was approaching the Welland Canal. The ship never made it.
Wreck of the George W. Holt
The schooner-barge George W. Holt was a modest 23-year-old wooden vessel when it wrecked on a reef off Port Austin, Michigan, while racing for the harbor in a Lake Huron gale. It happened on July 19, 1880 after the Holt broke away from a tow behind the steamer Iron Age. Fortunately, the skipper, Captain B. R. Hoose, seven other sailors, his wife and two other women got safely to the Port Austin lighthouse on the ship’s yawl. There they waited out the storm before reaching shore.
The schooner-barge George W. Holt was a modest 23-year-old wooden vessel when it wrecked on a reef off Port Austin, Michigan, while racing for the harbor in a Lake Huron gale. It happened on July 19, 1880 after the Holt broke away from a tow behind the steamer Iron Age. Fortunately, the skipper, Captain B. R. Hoose, seven other sailors, his wife and two other women got safely to the Port Austin lighthouse on the ship’s yawl. There they waited out the storm before reaching shore.
Rouse Simmons - Lost Christmas Tree Ship
Rats were part of the lore of sailing ships in the old days. For some odd reason, sailors included them in their superstitions. They believed that rats were able to predict the future. When rats were seen leaving a ship, sailors believed it was a very bad omen and that the ship probably was going to sink.That is just what happened to the three-mast schooner Rouse Simmons as the crew was preparing it for a trip across Lake Michigan in November, 1912. The Rouse Simmons sailed from Manistique, Michigan, bound for Chicago on Nov. 21 with a crew of 11 sailors and her deck piled high with Christmas trees. She encountered heavy winter gales and never arrived at Chicago.
Rats were part of the lore of sailing ships in the old days. For some odd reason, sailors included them in their superstitions. They believed that rats were able to predict the future. When rats were seen leaving a ship, sailors believed it was a very bad omen and that the ship probably was going to sink.That is just what happened to the three-mast schooner Rouse Simmons as the crew was preparing it for a trip across Lake Michigan in November, 1912. The Rouse Simmons sailed from Manistique, Michigan, bound for Chicago on Nov. 21 with a crew of 11 sailors and her deck piled high with Christmas trees. She encountered heavy winter gales and never arrived at Chicago.
Vulcan Fire Nearly Takes The Crew
The crew of the tug Vulcan barely had time to escape the early morning fire that swept the boat in Lake Erie on June 7, 1883. The powerful tug was off Cedar Point, Ohio, with a raft of logs in tow, when the fire broke out somewhere behind the smoke stack at about 2 a.m.
The crew of the tug Vulcan barely had time to escape the early morning fire that swept the boat in Lake Erie on June 7, 1883. The powerful tug was off Cedar Point, Ohio, with a raft of logs in tow, when the fire broke out somewhere behind the smoke stack at about 2 a.m.
Steamer Ohio and Barge Ironton Sunk In 1894 Collision
Five Great Lakes sailors drowned after their vessel, the schooner-barge Ironton, collided with the bulk carrier Ohio off Lake Huron’s Presque Isle in rough seas in the wee morning hours of September 26, 1894. The Ohio, a 202-foot, wooden steamship owned by C. W. Erphicke & Co. of Chicago, was struck broadside by the coal-laden 191-foot Ironton at around 12:30 a.m. A report in a Decatur newspaper stated that the schooner’s prow sliced into the Ohio abreast of the boiler house, opening a 200-square-foot hole to the water’s edge. The 19-year-old steamer settled and sank within 30 minutes in about 200 feet of water. The Ironton's yawl was crushed in the collision. When it sank the crew was forced to seize planks and barrels and attempt to swim for Presque Isle, some 15-miles away. Five of them were lost.
Five Great Lakes sailors drowned after their vessel, the schooner-barge Ironton, collided with the bulk carrier Ohio off Lake Huron’s Presque Isle in rough seas in the wee morning hours of September 26, 1894. The Ohio, a 202-foot, wooden steamship owned by C. W. Erphicke & Co. of Chicago, was struck broadside by the coal-laden 191-foot Ironton at around 12:30 a.m. A report in a Decatur newspaper stated that the schooner’s prow sliced into the Ohio abreast of the boiler house, opening a 200-square-foot hole to the water’s edge. The 19-year-old steamer settled and sank within 30 minutes in about 200 feet of water. The Ironton's yawl was crushed in the collision. When it sank the crew was forced to seize planks and barrels and attempt to swim for Presque Isle, some 15-miles away. Five of them were lost.
Lakes Veteran E. M. Ford’s Last Trip
A small gathering of Great Lakes boat watchers lined the banks of the Saginaw River in Bay City on a chilly November day in 2008 to watch the passing of the veteran ore carrier E. M. Ford on its way to the Purvis Marine Scrapyard at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was an historic event since at that date, the 110-year-old Ford was listed as the oldest steel freighter still afloat on the lakes.
A small gathering of Great Lakes boat watchers lined the banks of the Saginaw River in Bay City on a chilly November day in 2008 to watch the passing of the veteran ore carrier E. M. Ford on its way to the Purvis Marine Scrapyard at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was an historic event since at that date, the 110-year-old Ford was listed as the oldest steel freighter still afloat on the lakes.
Steamer Nashua’s Strange End
In the 24 years that the Nashua plied the Great Lakes, no one would have expected the sturdy little steam barge to come to the strange ending it did. After the boat went missing in the fall of 1892 an extensive search of Lake Huron was conducted. The remains of the 144-foot wooden vessel were found by the tugboat Howard, out of Harbor Beach. The wreck was floating upside down, eight miles off Bayfield, Ontario. The entire crew was lost.
In the 24 years that the Nashua plied the Great Lakes, no one would have expected the sturdy little steam barge to come to the strange ending it did. After the boat went missing in the fall of 1892 an extensive search of Lake Huron was conducted. The remains of the 144-foot wooden vessel were found by the tugboat Howard, out of Harbor Beach. The wreck was floating upside down, eight miles off Bayfield, Ontario. The entire crew was lost.
The Cook was Singing “It Ain’t Gonna Rain….”
When Ontario lifesavers scrambled aboard the broken wooden decks of the stranded 50-year-old freighter N. J. Nessen, they had a surprise awaiting them. There, amidst the 13-member crew huddled in the pilot house, was Alice Humphreys of Port Huron, singing her own version of “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More.” Mrs. Humphreys, who was aboard as the ship’s cook, was a plucky woman who kept busy cheering her shipmates while they awaited rescue. Some of the sailors later said she kept morale up even though nobody was sure they would survive the storm that wrecked their ship.
When Ontario lifesavers scrambled aboard the broken wooden decks of the stranded 50-year-old freighter N. J. Nessen, they had a surprise awaiting them. There, amidst the 13-member crew huddled in the pilot house, was Alice Humphreys of Port Huron, singing her own version of “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More.” Mrs. Humphreys, who was aboard as the ship’s cook, was a plucky woman who kept busy cheering her shipmates while they awaited rescue. Some of the sailors later said she kept morale up even though nobody was sure they would survive the storm that wrecked their ship.
Wreck Of The Sunbeam
The demise of the steamer Sunbeam off Lake Superior's Eagle Harbor in 1863 was a major blow for merchants and residents in the port towns along Superior's coast. The ship was among the first steamboats to ply the lake, and it was considered an important link between the various frontier towns and eastern "civilization." When it entered Lake Superior's trade route in 1861, the Sunbeam was touted by the newspapers of the day as "the finest steamer on the lakes." the vessel provided both passenger and freight service.
The demise of the steamer Sunbeam off Lake Superior's Eagle Harbor in 1863 was a major blow for merchants and residents in the port towns along Superior's coast. The ship was among the first steamboats to ply the lake, and it was considered an important link between the various frontier towns and eastern "civilization." When it entered Lake Superior's trade route in 1861, the Sunbeam was touted by the newspapers of the day as "the finest steamer on the lakes." the vessel provided both passenger and freight service.
Chief Wawatam; Historic Great Lakes Workhorse
Older residents of Michigan, especially those who lived near or rode the ferries that preceded the bridge at the Straits of Mackinaw, fondly remember the railroad car ferry Chief Wawatam. The old Chief’s black smoke could be seen hovering over the straits from miles away, and people in the two port towns remember the sounds of the vessel coming to dock and the steam engine that moved the cars on and off its decks. The sounds and visions were a way of life for residents of both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
Older residents of Michigan, especially those who lived near or rode the ferries that preceded the bridge at the Straits of Mackinaw, fondly remember the railroad car ferry Chief Wawatam. The old Chief’s black smoke could be seen hovering over the straits from miles away, and people in the two port towns remember the sounds of the vessel coming to dock and the steam engine that moved the cars on and off its decks. The sounds and visions were a way of life for residents of both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
Terrible Foundering of the Searchlight
My hometown of Harbor Beach, Michigan, knew its share of shipwrecks off its Lake Huron coast but none were as personal as the foundering of the fishing tug Searchlight which disappeared in view of the local lifesaving crew just outside the port city’s breakwater on April 23, 1907. All six members of the crew went down with their boat during a violent northwester just before dark.
My hometown of Harbor Beach, Michigan, knew its share of shipwrecks off its Lake Huron coast but none were as personal as the foundering of the fishing tug Searchlight which disappeared in view of the local lifesaving crew just outside the port city’s breakwater on April 23, 1907. All six members of the crew went down with their boat during a violent northwester just before dark.
LaSalle’s Griffin, First Great Lakes Ship
French explorer and fur trader Rene Robert Cavelier de la Salle built the Griffin, the first ship to ever navigate the Great Lakes, in 1670. It was a sailing ship hewn from fresh-cut trees along the Niagara River, at the mouth of Cayuga Creek near the place where the town of La Salle, New York, stands today. Old drawings are but guesses of what the Griffin looked like, based upon ship design of that period. It is said the vessel was small, ranging from 45 to 60 tons burden. It carried seven brass cannons so technically was a ship of war even though its purpose was for the transport of furs from the lakes to New York for shipment to Europe.
French explorer and fur trader Rene Robert Cavelier de la Salle built the Griffin, the first ship to ever navigate the Great Lakes, in 1670. It was a sailing ship hewn from fresh-cut trees along the Niagara River, at the mouth of Cayuga Creek near the place where the town of La Salle, New York, stands today. Old drawings are but guesses of what the Griffin looked like, based upon ship design of that period. It is said the vessel was small, ranging from 45 to 60 tons burden. It carried seven brass cannons so technically was a ship of war even though its purpose was for the transport of furs from the lakes to New York for shipment to Europe.
Dramatic Rescue On The A. A. Parker
The rescue of the 18 crew members and two dogs from the deck of the sinking Great Lakes steamer A. A. Parker remains among the annuals of the most dramatic stories in the history of the U.S. Live Saving Service. The Parker sank on Lake Superior, just off Grand Maras, on Sept. 19, 1903. The story of what happened, and just how close those sailors came to losing their lives, reads like the plot of a contemporary adventure film produced on a Hollywood set. You almost feel the danger just reading the dull pages of government records.
The rescue of the 18 crew members and two dogs from the deck of the sinking Great Lakes steamer A. A. Parker remains among the annuals of the most dramatic stories in the history of the U.S. Live Saving Service. The Parker sank on Lake Superior, just off Grand Maras, on Sept. 19, 1903. The story of what happened, and just how close those sailors came to losing their lives, reads like the plot of a contemporary adventure film produced on a Hollywood set. You almost feel the danger just reading the dull pages of government records.
Just Three Hundred Feet Short
Battered by 15-foot waves and a fierce northeaster, the steamer W. H. Sawyer’s luck ran out on Aug. 11, 1928 as the vessel raced for the safety of the Harbor Beach, Michigan breakwater. The Sawyer plunged to the bottom of Lake Huron just three hundred feet from safety and within sight of the Harbor Beach Lifesaving station. The wreck dropped in an upright position in shallow water so its two masts were visible for days, marking the grave of the ship’s cook, who went down with it. John J. Buckley, Detroit, signed on as a cook only days before the Sawyer sailed on its final journey.
Battered by 15-foot waves and a fierce northeaster, the steamer W. H. Sawyer’s luck ran out on Aug. 11, 1928 as the vessel raced for the safety of the Harbor Beach, Michigan breakwater. The Sawyer plunged to the bottom of Lake Huron just three hundred feet from safety and within sight of the Harbor Beach Lifesaving station. The wreck dropped in an upright position in shallow water so its two masts were visible for days, marking the grave of the ship’s cook, who went down with it. John J. Buckley, Detroit, signed on as a cook only days before the Sawyer sailed on its final journey.
Strange Disappearance Of The Thomas Hume
When the schooner Thomas Hume went missing in a Lake Michigan gale on May 21, 1891, everybody assumed that the ship sank. They were correct but it was not until 2006 that a dive team searching the southern end of the lake found the wreck, resting upright, its masts still in place. Prior to that the lost Hume was among the great unsolved mysteries of the Great Lakes.
When the schooner Thomas Hume went missing in a Lake Michigan gale on May 21, 1891, everybody assumed that the ship sank. They were correct but it was not until 2006 that a dive team searching the southern end of the lake found the wreck, resting upright, its masts still in place. Prior to that the lost Hume was among the great unsolved mysteries of the Great Lakes.
Eerie Lights Over Lake Erie
A few years ago the UFO hunters were citing strange lights over Lake Erie as proof of new sightings of alien ships in our skies. A report in in one of the web sites recalls clippings from area newspapers dating back to the mid-1800's where people along the shore saw unexplained lights and thought they were from burning ships. Some believed it was a ghostly image of a fire in 1841 that destroyed the steamship Erie and killed 250 souls.
A few years ago the UFO hunters were citing strange lights over Lake Erie as proof of new sightings of alien ships in our skies. A report in in one of the web sites recalls clippings from area newspapers dating back to the mid-1800's where people along the shore saw unexplained lights and thought they were from burning ships. Some believed it was a ghostly image of a fire in 1841 that destroyed the steamship Erie and killed 250 souls.
Death Ship Wisconsin
In its 48-year history, the thousand-ton propeller Wisconsin was a ship fraught with disaster and strange contrasts. It was given the name Wisconsin on the day it was launched in 1881, and still had that name on the day it foundered off Kenosha in 1929. Yet the vessel went through six name changes in between. Her names included E. G. Crosby twice. The ship also was named the General Robert M. O'Reilly for one year, from 1918 to 1919. Its other names were Naomi and Pilgrim. The vessel burned off Grand Haven on May 21, 1907, with the loss of five lives, and it took another 16 lives when it sank on Oct. 29, 1929. Yet during World War I, as the Crosby, the ship was used on the Atlantic coast as a hospital convalescent facility at New York and may have been regarded as a lifesaver.
In its 48-year history, the thousand-ton propeller Wisconsin was a ship fraught with disaster and strange contrasts. It was given the name Wisconsin on the day it was launched in 1881, and still had that name on the day it foundered off Kenosha in 1929. Yet the vessel went through six name changes in between. Her names included E. G. Crosby twice. The ship also was named the General Robert M. O'Reilly for one year, from 1918 to 1919. Its other names were Naomi and Pilgrim. The vessel burned off Grand Haven on May 21, 1907, with the loss of five lives, and it took another 16 lives when it sank on Oct. 29, 1929. Yet during World War I, as the Crosby, the ship was used on the Atlantic coast as a hospital convalescent facility at New York and may have been regarded as a lifesaver.
The Many Lives of the Steamship Wyoming
Details today lie buried in the dusty old newspapers of the late Nineteenth Century but from the records we know that the wooden steam barge Wyoming grounded, sank and was salvaged and resurrected numerous times before it burned off Pointe aux Barques, Michigan and sank for the last time on November 12, 1904. What is unique about the Wyoming is that it was given a variety of profiles ranging from a side-wheeled steam barge when launched at Detroit in 1870 to an unpowered barge, schooner and finally a propeller-driven steamship at the time of its destruction by fire.
Details today lie buried in the dusty old newspapers of the late Nineteenth Century but from the records we know that the wooden steam barge Wyoming grounded, sank and was salvaged and resurrected numerous times before it burned off Pointe aux Barques, Michigan and sank for the last time on November 12, 1904. What is unique about the Wyoming is that it was given a variety of profiles ranging from a side-wheeled steam barge when launched at Detroit in 1870 to an unpowered barge, schooner and finally a propeller-driven steamship at the time of its destruction by fire.
Wasaga Burned Off Copper Harbor
A November gale on Lake Superior forced the package freighter Wasaga, under the command of Captain W. A. Glass, to seek shelter behind the Keweenaw Peninsula in 1910. The 233-foot wooden hulled steamer joined a fleet of other vessels anchored there on the evening of November 6. At 6 a.m. the next day a fire was discovered in the ship’s number one hold. Efforts to battle the fire were hampered by the still raging storm and the 18 crew members soon were forced to escape in the life boats.
A November gale on Lake Superior forced the package freighter Wasaga, under the command of Captain W. A. Glass, to seek shelter behind the Keweenaw Peninsula in 1910. The 233-foot wooden hulled steamer joined a fleet of other vessels anchored there on the evening of November 6. At 6 a.m. the next day a fire was discovered in the ship’s number one hold. Efforts to battle the fire were hampered by the still raging storm and the 18 crew members soon were forced to escape in the life boats.
Was The Lady Elgin Cursed?
Some said the side-wheeled steamship Lady Elgin bore a curse from the day it was launched at Buffalo, New York, in 1851. That is because the engine and boilers came from the Cleopatra, an ocean slave trader that was confiscated by the U. S. Navy. But nobody dreamed that the Lady Elgin would be remembered as one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes history.
Some said the side-wheeled steamship Lady Elgin bore a curse from the day it was launched at Buffalo, New York, in 1851. That is because the engine and boilers came from the Cleopatra, an ocean slave trader that was confiscated by the U. S. Navy. But nobody dreamed that the Lady Elgin would be remembered as one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes history.
Burning Of The Winslow
The package freighter Winslow had been operating successfully on the Great Lakes for 28 years so the wooden hull, decks and superstructure were dry and saturated with paint, grease and oil. So it was when fire broke out below deck at Duluth on October 3, 1891, nothing could be done to save it.
The package freighter Winslow had been operating successfully on the Great Lakes for 28 years so the wooden hull, decks and superstructure were dry and saturated with paint, grease and oil. So it was when fire broke out below deck at Duluth on October 3, 1891, nothing could be done to save it.
Tragic Capsizing Of The H. Rand
The 107-foot schooner H. Rand capsized in a gale in Lake Michigan, off Port Washington, Wisconsin, on May 24, 1901, killing the crew of four. Experienced sailors said they had warned the boat’s master, Captain Ralph Jefferson, that his habit of sailing with a short crew was setting the stage for disaster. They said a small crew was unable to handle a three-mast sailing ship like the Rand in a storm. They appear to have been right.
The 107-foot schooner H. Rand capsized in a gale in Lake Michigan, off Port Washington, Wisconsin, on May 24, 1901, killing the crew of four. Experienced sailors said they had warned the boat’s master, Captain Ralph Jefferson, that his habit of sailing with a short crew was setting the stage for disaster. They said a small crew was unable to handle a three-mast sailing ship like the Rand in a storm. They appear to have been right.
Mystery Of The Thomas Hume
When the schooner Thomas Hume went missing in a Lake Michigan gale on May 21, 1891, everybody assumed that the ship sank. After a week passed and the usual trappings from such a disaster; floating timbers, life jackets, lifeboats and bodies, failed to turn up, people realized they had a mystery on their hands. The Hume had disappeared without a trace.
When the schooner Thomas Hume went missing in a Lake Michigan gale on May 21, 1891, everybody assumed that the ship sank. After a week passed and the usual trappings from such a disaster; floating timbers, life jackets, lifeboats and bodies, failed to turn up, people realized they had a mystery on their hands. The Hume had disappeared without a trace.
Sinking of the Iron Chief
Among the wrecks at Pointe aux Barques, at the tip of Michigan's Thumb is the Iron Chief, a 212-foot wooden-hulled steamer that met its fate on October 3, 1904. Built as a schooner 23-years earlier in Detroit, the Iron Chief was later converted to be a steam barge. The Iron Chief’s final trip into Lake Huron began with Captain U.S. Cody at the helm, and the barge Iron Cliff in tow. Both vessels were laden with coal, bound from Port Huron north to Duluth. When they ran into rough weather on Lake Huron the Iron Chief's stuffing box failed and despite dramatic efforts to save the ship, it sank while racing under tow for safety at Harbor Beach.
Among the wrecks at Pointe aux Barques, at the tip of Michigan's Thumb is the Iron Chief, a 212-foot wooden-hulled steamer that met its fate on October 3, 1904. Built as a schooner 23-years earlier in Detroit, the Iron Chief was later converted to be a steam barge. The Iron Chief’s final trip into Lake Huron began with Captain U.S. Cody at the helm, and the barge Iron Cliff in tow. Both vessels were laden with coal, bound from Port Huron north to Duluth. When they ran into rough weather on Lake Huron the Iron Chief's stuffing box failed and despite dramatic efforts to save the ship, it sank while racing under tow for safety at Harbor Beach.
Trapped On A Sinking Ship
The master of the Canadian freighter Glenorchy was proclaimed a hero even though he lost his ship and its cargo. That is because Capt. Fred Burke risked his own life when he remained aboard his sinking vessel to save a crew member trapped below deck. It happened Oct. 29, 1924, when the Glenorchy and the freight hauler Leonard B. Miller collided in dense fog on Lake Huron, about six miles southeast of Harbor Beach.
The master of the Canadian freighter Glenorchy was proclaimed a hero even though he lost his ship and its cargo. That is because Capt. Fred Burke risked his own life when he remained aboard his sinking vessel to save a crew member trapped below deck. It happened Oct. 29, 1924, when the Glenorchy and the freight hauler Leonard B. Miller collided in dense fog on Lake Huron, about six miles southeast of Harbor Beach.
The Venerable Steam Barge Lloyd S. Porter
When launched at Port Huron, Michigan in 1893, the wooden hulled steam barge Lloyd S. Porter was designed to be a bulk cargo carrier and nothing more. At 159 feet in length, the Porter was one of a fleet of carriers operating on the Great Lakes in those years that carried lumber, iron ore, coal and other bulk cargoes. The demand for small wooden carriers was high at that time because of the many small lake port towns that could not accommodate larger steel hulled vessels. The Porter was a simple boat, with its forecastle located in the bow, a small pilothouse resting on top of that, and an open bridge. The engine room was in the stern, and the cargo holds were amidships. It was a simple design that was used in building lake freighters for years.
When launched at Port Huron, Michigan in 1893, the wooden hulled steam barge Lloyd S. Porter was designed to be a bulk cargo carrier and nothing more. At 159 feet in length, the Porter was one of a fleet of carriers operating on the Great Lakes in those years that carried lumber, iron ore, coal and other bulk cargoes. The demand for small wooden carriers was high at that time because of the many small lake port towns that could not accommodate larger steel hulled vessels. The Porter was a simple boat, with its forecastle located in the bow, a small pilothouse resting on top of that, and an open bridge. The engine room was in the stern, and the cargo holds were amidships. It was a simple design that was used in building lake freighters for years.
The Phoenix Horror Of 1847
It is a paradox in Great Lakes history that one of the first major disasters involving a fire at sea happened to the propeller Phoenix in 1847. The vessel was named for a mythological bird of ancient Egypt that was said to have perished in flames, then rose fresh and young from the ashes. But this Phoenix, which burned near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Nov. 21 taking an estimated 200 passengers to their death, never came back. It burned to a ruined charred hulk that was never rebuilt.
It is a paradox in Great Lakes history that one of the first major disasters involving a fire at sea happened to the propeller Phoenix in 1847. The vessel was named for a mythological bird of ancient Egypt that was said to have perished in flames, then rose fresh and young from the ashes. But this Phoenix, which burned near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Nov. 21 taking an estimated 200 passengers to their death, never came back. It burned to a ruined charred hulk that was never rebuilt.
Strange Steamboat Walk-in-the-Water
The first steamboat on the Great Lakes was the Walk-in-the-water, launched in 1818. There is a legend that the boat got its name from an Indian that watched Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont as it huffed and puffed its way up the Hudson River just 11 years earlier. As the vessel moved upstream against the river current without the help of sails and wind, and he watched the turning paddle wheels, the native remarked that the vessel "walked in the water." While officially named the Walk-in-the-Water, the vessel was most commonly known to the people around the Great Lakes as "the steamboat." That was because it was the only operating steamboat during the three years of its existence. The Walk-in-the-Water made an important mark on Great Lakes history.
The first steamboat on the Great Lakes was the Walk-in-the-water, launched in 1818. There is a legend that the boat got its name from an Indian that watched Robert Fulton's steamboat Clermont as it huffed and puffed its way up the Hudson River just 11 years earlier. As the vessel moved upstream against the river current without the help of sails and wind, and he watched the turning paddle wheels, the native remarked that the vessel "walked in the water." While officially named the Walk-in-the-Water, the vessel was most commonly known to the people around the Great Lakes as "the steamboat." That was because it was the only operating steamboat during the three years of its existence. The Walk-in-the-Water made an important mark on Great Lakes history.
The Great Atlantic Disaster
For years there was an old joke about how Lake Erie swallowed the Atlantic. It was a sick joke at best since it referred to one of the worst disasters in the history of the Great Lakes. That event was the sinking of the passenger steamer Atlantic and loss of between 130 and 250 lives following a collision with the propeller Ogdensburg in 1852. The Atlantic, carrying an estimated 600 passengers, was steaming westward toward Detroit, and the Ogdensburg, a smaller, propeller-driven vessel, was traveling north toward the Canadian shore. Witnesses said the weather was slightly hazy but the lake was calm and the stars were visible when the Ogdensburg struck the ill-fated Atlantic amidships at about 2 a.m. Other reports stated that there was fog in the lake at the time of the wreck.
For years there was an old joke about how Lake Erie swallowed the Atlantic. It was a sick joke at best since it referred to one of the worst disasters in the history of the Great Lakes. That event was the sinking of the passenger steamer Atlantic and loss of between 130 and 250 lives following a collision with the propeller Ogdensburg in 1852. The Atlantic, carrying an estimated 600 passengers, was steaming westward toward Detroit, and the Ogdensburg, a smaller, propeller-driven vessel, was traveling north toward the Canadian shore. Witnesses said the weather was slightly hazy but the lake was calm and the stars were visible when the Ogdensburg struck the ill-fated Atlantic amidships at about 2 a.m. Other reports stated that there was fog in the lake at the time of the wreck.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Stories
The Strange Story of
Shipwreck Survivor Dennis Hale
During my years of reporting for various Michigan newspapers, one of the most memorable stories I came upon was that of Dennis Hale, an Ohio man who was the sole survivor of the sinking of the Daniel J. Morrell in Lake Huron. Hale's experience occurred on Nov. 29, 1966. When I met him 25 years later, he was still reeling from its effect on him. You see Dennis Hale defied all the rules. He survived even though he spent 38 hours on an open raft, in the midst of a winter snow storm, wearing nothing more than his underwear and a life jacket.
Shipwreck Survivor Dennis Hale
During my years of reporting for various Michigan newspapers, one of the most memorable stories I came upon was that of Dennis Hale, an Ohio man who was the sole survivor of the sinking of the Daniel J. Morrell in Lake Huron. Hale's experience occurred on Nov. 29, 1966. When I met him 25 years later, he was still reeling from its effect on him. You see Dennis Hale defied all the rules. He survived even though he spent 38 hours on an open raft, in the midst of a winter snow storm, wearing nothing more than his underwear and a life jacket.
The Burning Of The Noronic
Sanford Newman, a Cleveland man participating in a special August excursion aboard the Great Lakes passenger liner Noronic on Sept. 16, 1949, later said he thought it was about 2:30 a.m. when the fire that destroyed the ship was discovered. Newman and his wife were among the 524 passengers taking advantage of a special late-season rate on the Canada Steamship Line vessel. While other passengers were partying, the Newmans and friends were engaged in a hot game of cards in a parlor on C Deck, somewhere amidships. The ship was docked at Toronto for the night. That was when he said he heard a commotion in the hall and someone yelled that they could smell smoke.
Sanford Newman, a Cleveland man participating in a special August excursion aboard the Great Lakes passenger liner Noronic on Sept. 16, 1949, later said he thought it was about 2:30 a.m. when the fire that destroyed the ship was discovered. Newman and his wife were among the 524 passengers taking advantage of a special late-season rate on the Canada Steamship Line vessel. While other passengers were partying, the Newmans and friends were engaged in a hot game of cards in a parlor on C Deck, somewhere amidships. The ship was docked at Toronto for the night. That was when he said he heard a commotion in the hall and someone yelled that they could smell smoke.
The Miracle of the Conger Explosion
The horror of the blast that wrecked the Port Huron, Michigan ferry Omar D. Conger and killed four crew members on March 26, 1922, caused people at first to overlook the fact that a miracle had happened. The explosion sent pieces of the red-hot boiler flying hundreds of feet through the air in all directions where they left a path of destruction. A second steamship, the Cheboygan, with about two hundred passengers, was only a few hundred feet away and approaching the dock. While people were hurt, the miracle was that only four people died.
The horror of the blast that wrecked the Port Huron, Michigan ferry Omar D. Conger and killed four crew members on March 26, 1922, caused people at first to overlook the fact that a miracle had happened. The explosion sent pieces of the red-hot boiler flying hundreds of feet through the air in all directions where they left a path of destruction. A second steamship, the Cheboygan, with about two hundred passengers, was only a few hundred feet away and approaching the dock. While people were hurt, the miracle was that only four people died.
The Eastland Horror
The mention of the steamer Eastland in and around Chicago still stirs black thoughts of hundreds of screaming men, women, and children trapped below decks to drown aboard a capsized excursion liner. Those who watched the motion picture The Poseidon Adventure, about a liner overturned by a great tidal wave at sea, might understand what it might have been like for the 2,408 passengers and 72 crew members aboard the Eastland on July 24, 1915, when the vessel tipped on its side and sank in Chicago harbor. Of that number, 835 perished. The disaster still ranks with the sinking of the Titanic, the torpedoing of the Lusitania, and the burning of the steamer General Slocom off New York's Hell Gate as the worst of all marine tragedies. No other wreck on the Great Lakes claimed as many lives.
The mention of the steamer Eastland in and around Chicago still stirs black thoughts of hundreds of screaming men, women, and children trapped below decks to drown aboard a capsized excursion liner. Those who watched the motion picture The Poseidon Adventure, about a liner overturned by a great tidal wave at sea, might understand what it might have been like for the 2,408 passengers and 72 crew members aboard the Eastland on July 24, 1915, when the vessel tipped on its side and sank in Chicago harbor. Of that number, 835 perished. The disaster still ranks with the sinking of the Titanic, the torpedoing of the Lusitania, and the burning of the steamer General Slocom off New York's Hell Gate as the worst of all marine tragedies. No other wreck on the Great Lakes claimed as many lives.
Liner Saint Laurent Enters Great Lakes
A 286-foot 14-year-old luxury liner will be entering the Great Lakes this summer under the name Saint Laurent. The vessel’s new owners say the ship has been entirely rebuilt and prepared for an introductory voyage in July from Montreal to Chicago, hitting all of the five Great Lakes. It will be the first luxury passenger vessel of its kind to operate on the lakes in about 40 years.
A 286-foot 14-year-old luxury liner will be entering the Great Lakes this summer under the name Saint Laurent. The vessel’s new owners say the ship has been entirely rebuilt and prepared for an introductory voyage in July from Montreal to Chicago, hitting all of the five Great Lakes. It will be the first luxury passenger vessel of its kind to operate on the lakes in about 40 years.
Storm Hag
Lake Erie’s Legendary Monsters of Shipwreck
People who live on or have sailed the Great Lakes know how fast storms can develop and catch fishermen in small craft as well as sailors on the large ships unaware. Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, is said to be the most dangerous of them all. There are mysteries about Lake Erie; stories of lost ships, men and even aircraft that have caused many writers and conspiracy theorists to speculate that this lake has its own version of the infamous Bermuda Triangle. And then there are the stories told by the old men who claim to have seen or at least heard about a monster living in those waters referred to as the Storm Hag. Another eerie legend about Lake Erie involves the appearance of a ghostly black dog.
People who live on or have sailed the Great Lakes know how fast storms can develop and catch fishermen in small craft as well as sailors on the large ships unaware. Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, is said to be the most dangerous of them all. There are mysteries about Lake Erie; stories of lost ships, men and even aircraft that have caused many writers and conspiracy theorists to speculate that this lake has its own version of the infamous Bermuda Triangle. And then there are the stories told by the old men who claim to have seen or at least heard about a monster living in those waters referred to as the Storm Hag. Another eerie legend about Lake Erie involves the appearance of a ghostly black dog.
Giant Ship William D. Lawrence
At 262 feet, the full-rigged sailing ship William D. Lawrence was a midget compared to the thousand-foot-long monsters dominating the waters of the world today. But when launched at Maitland, Nova Scotia in 1874, the vessel had the distinction of being one of the largest wooden hulled sailing ships ever built and certainly the largest ship of its kind ever built in Canada.
At 262 feet, the full-rigged sailing ship William D. Lawrence was a midget compared to the thousand-foot-long monsters dominating the waters of the world today. But when launched at Maitland, Nova Scotia in 1874, the vessel had the distinction of being one of the largest wooden hulled sailing ships ever built and certainly the largest ship of its kind ever built in Canada.
Adriatic And Baltic Lost In Same Lake Erie Gale
Fourteen sailors perished when the schooner barges Adriatic and Baltic broke loose from the tug that had them in tow and wrecked during a severe Lake Erie Gale in 1872. The barges were in a line of vessels in tow behind the tug Moore, believed to have been the William A. Moore that was on the Great Lakes that year. The vessels were all bound for Saginaw, Michigan, which means they were probably involved in carrying lumber to the mills at Tonawanda, New York.
Fourteen sailors perished when the schooner barges Adriatic and Baltic broke loose from the tug that had them in tow and wrecked during a severe Lake Erie Gale in 1872. The barges were in a line of vessels in tow behind the tug Moore, believed to have been the William A. Moore that was on the Great Lakes that year. The vessels were all bound for Saginaw, Michigan, which means they were probably involved in carrying lumber to the mills at Tonawanda, New York.
Wreck Of The Galena
The 193-foot-long wooden propeller slammed into the rocks with a sudden jolt that threw passengers from their bunks and rattled pans in the galley. Broadbridge grabbed the chadburn and sent the order to the engine room to reverse the engines. His first hope was that the ship could break free and that the hull was not severely damaged. But the steamer didn’t budge.
The 193-foot-long wooden propeller slammed into the rocks with a sudden jolt that threw passengers from their bunks and rattled pans in the galley. Broadbridge grabbed the chadburn and sent the order to the engine room to reverse the engines. His first hope was that the ship could break free and that the hull was not severely damaged. But the steamer didn’t budge.