Lake Huron’s Ghost Ship Kaliyuga
By James Donahue
When Simon Langell built his big new steamer at the St. Clair Michigan shipyards in 1887, he named it Kaliyuga, an ancient name that was supposed to mean “age of iron.” It was an inappropriate name for this steamer, because, though it was built early during the age of iron ships, the Kaliyuga was among the last of the wooden-hulled steamers. Had it been made of iron, perhaps it might have been strong enough to withstand the storm that claimed it. The steamer foundered with all hands somewhere in Lake Huron on October 19, 1905.
That storm, with winds clocked at seventy-two miles per hour, was among the worst in terms of lives and property lost on the Great Lakes. An estimated forty sailors perished and the Kaliyuga was one of twenty-seven ships that were either sunk or driven on the rocks. The ship was on the way down the lakes from Marquette, loaded with iron ore for Cleveland when it disappeared.
She locked through at Sault Ste. Marie early Thursday morning and was leaving the lower Saint Mary River at about the time the gale was starting to build on Lake Huron. The Kaliyuga was last seen by the crew of the steamer Frontenac at 4:00 PM off Presque Isle. Capt. F. L. Tomkin, who was in his first year as a lakes pilot, was following the old prescribed rules for riding out a bad storm. The gale was pounding his boat from the northeast, and he had her bow headed into the wind to offer the least resistance to both wind and wave.
Capt. John Duddleson, skipper of the steamer L. C. Waldo, reported seeing the Kaliyuga at about dusk on Thursday, still steaming east against the wind between Middle and Thunder Bay Islands. Duddleson may have been the last person to see the ill-fated vessel. He said that around 2:00 AM Friday, the wind shifted and blew a “terrible sea” from the northwest.
Sailors who know the lakes say those wind shifts can do terrible things to a vessel. Waves strike from one direction while wind is attacking from another. Sometimes even the waves can build from two different directions. The strain has broken the back of even the iron hulled boats over the years.
Nothing more was heard from the Kaliyuga, and by the following Monday her owners, the St. Clair Steamship Company of Cleveland, reported her missing. An extensive search was launched. On October 26 the steamer Lillie Smith found a pilot house and sections of cabin floating in Georgian Bay. The name board on the pilothouse said Kaliyuga. Bodies of some sailors washed ashore south of Kincardine and at Port Elgin, Ontario.
The official record places the wreck somewhere off Presque Isle, but Duddleson’s sighting indicated the boat was farther south and west. The Kaliyuga joined the so-called ghost ships that “fell through the crack” and were never seen again. Seventeen other sailors died with the Kaliyuga. Among them were Charles Simmons, first mate; Charles J. Murphy of Milwaukee, second mate; Charles A. Sharpe of Cleveland, chief engineer; Ernest E. Moder, second engineer; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lefianne, stewards; and Thomas Carr, wheelman.
By James Donahue
When Simon Langell built his big new steamer at the St. Clair Michigan shipyards in 1887, he named it Kaliyuga, an ancient name that was supposed to mean “age of iron.” It was an inappropriate name for this steamer, because, though it was built early during the age of iron ships, the Kaliyuga was among the last of the wooden-hulled steamers. Had it been made of iron, perhaps it might have been strong enough to withstand the storm that claimed it. The steamer foundered with all hands somewhere in Lake Huron on October 19, 1905.
That storm, with winds clocked at seventy-two miles per hour, was among the worst in terms of lives and property lost on the Great Lakes. An estimated forty sailors perished and the Kaliyuga was one of twenty-seven ships that were either sunk or driven on the rocks. The ship was on the way down the lakes from Marquette, loaded with iron ore for Cleveland when it disappeared.
She locked through at Sault Ste. Marie early Thursday morning and was leaving the lower Saint Mary River at about the time the gale was starting to build on Lake Huron. The Kaliyuga was last seen by the crew of the steamer Frontenac at 4:00 PM off Presque Isle. Capt. F. L. Tomkin, who was in his first year as a lakes pilot, was following the old prescribed rules for riding out a bad storm. The gale was pounding his boat from the northeast, and he had her bow headed into the wind to offer the least resistance to both wind and wave.
Capt. John Duddleson, skipper of the steamer L. C. Waldo, reported seeing the Kaliyuga at about dusk on Thursday, still steaming east against the wind between Middle and Thunder Bay Islands. Duddleson may have been the last person to see the ill-fated vessel. He said that around 2:00 AM Friday, the wind shifted and blew a “terrible sea” from the northwest.
Sailors who know the lakes say those wind shifts can do terrible things to a vessel. Waves strike from one direction while wind is attacking from another. Sometimes even the waves can build from two different directions. The strain has broken the back of even the iron hulled boats over the years.
Nothing more was heard from the Kaliyuga, and by the following Monday her owners, the St. Clair Steamship Company of Cleveland, reported her missing. An extensive search was launched. On October 26 the steamer Lillie Smith found a pilot house and sections of cabin floating in Georgian Bay. The name board on the pilothouse said Kaliyuga. Bodies of some sailors washed ashore south of Kincardine and at Port Elgin, Ontario.
The official record places the wreck somewhere off Presque Isle, but Duddleson’s sighting indicated the boat was farther south and west. The Kaliyuga joined the so-called ghost ships that “fell through the crack” and were never seen again. Seventeen other sailors died with the Kaliyuga. Among them were Charles Simmons, first mate; Charles J. Murphy of Milwaukee, second mate; Charles A. Sharpe of Cleveland, chief engineer; Ernest E. Moder, second engineer; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lefianne, stewards; and Thomas Carr, wheelman.