SHIPWRECK LIST
– LAKE HURON SHORELINE – ADJACENT TO PORT OF GODERICH
The following list
annotates current records of shipwrecks probably located in the vicinity
of the Port of Goderich. The research details has been compiled in a
Summer Experience Project sponsored by the Marine Heritage Committee by
reviewing microfiche copies of "The Huron Signal" and
"The Star" as available at the Goderich Branch of the Huron
County Library.
Extensive use has also been made, with permission, of The Great Lakes
Shipwreck File: Total Losses of Great Lakes Ships, 1679 – 1998; ©
1999 - David D. Swayze, Lake Isabella, MI. www.oakland.edu/boatnerd/swayze/shipwreck/r.htm
Boldface notes have
been added to the data list by Paul Carroll, Huron County Historical
Society, based on information from sources identified. (HCM = Huron
County Museum)
References to the
‘Bone Yard’ refer to an area, South of the former South pier,
currently West of the Rotary Arch at the entrance to the new South
beach. The ‘Bone Yard’ was the repository for derelict vessels or
wreck remains that were purposely sunk or moved to that area. Currently
at least 3, possibly 5 vessel components, are visible on the lake bottom
in that area.
The list will be
updated from time to time as new information is found.
ANNE
Smashed on
North Pier in gale – reported in Signal 1853, Nov 24, Captain Morrison
ABERCORN
Other names : none
Official no. : 105361
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight "rabbit"
Build info : 1873, Morley & Hill, Marine City, MI
Specs : 126x26x11 261g 191n
Date of loss : 1904, Sep 5
Place of loss : At Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : (none)
Carrying : coal
Detail : Burned at dock while unloading. She reportedly caught fire from
the explosion of signal lamp. Her remains were abandoned in place, but
one source states that the hulk was sold Canadian in 1905.. Reported by
Signal to be removed to ‘Bone Yard’ (South of former S Pier) 1904,
Sep 16
Owned by W. Willoughby of Cleveland.
AMELIA
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?(C none)
Type at loss : schooner, wood (2-m)
Build info : ?(1836, J. Randall, Oakville, Ont.)
Specs : ?(91x19x7, 106 t.)
Date of loss : 1864, Nov (8)
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : foundered
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Foundered in shallow water in a storm and reported pounded to
pieces by the 28th. Recovered, rebuilt as barge, which was lost soon
after.
ARK
Other names : built on burned out hull of steamer E.K. COLLINS(qv)
Official no. : none
Type at loss : barge, wood
Build info : 1853, Newport, MI as a sidewheel passenger steamer.
Specs : ca. 254 ft.
Date of loss : 1866, Oct 25
Place of loss : mid-lake
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 6
Carrying : light
Detail : Downbound from Saginaw, she disappeared into a storm after
being lost from the tow of a tug. There was much speculation as to her
whereabouts until large amounts of identifiable wreckage began washing
ashore 100 miles north of Goderich, Ont. Her three towmates, the barges
ELLIOTT, DETROIT and ONTARIO, all survived.
(Location of wreckage washed ashore needs to be verified? Was it 10
miles North?)
AZOV
Other names : none
Official no. : C ?
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1866, J. Simpson, Wellington Square, (Burlington?), Ont
Specs : 108x24x10 195t
Date of loss : 1911, Oct 22
Place of loss : about 15 mi off Pte Aux Barques, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none of 6
Carrying : piling logs
Detail : Sprang a leak, capsized and foundered in a storm. Her crew
managed to escape in her boat and struggled the width of the lake in the
gale to land near AZOV's homeport of Goderich. The ship's wreckage
drifted ashore on the Canadian side days later.
Collided with the propeller BRISTOL and sank on Lake Ontario in July,
1870.
Rebuilt in 1906.
BROTHERS
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1852, H.Marlton, Goderich, Ont.
Specs : 62x16x7, 64g 57n
Date of loss : 1869, early Spring
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : ice
Loss of life : none
Carrying : ?
Detail : Caught in an ice field and hull crushed.
Another schooner BROTHERS was reported lost near Port Burwell in 1833.
JAMES
CARRUTHERS
Other names : none; sometimes seen as JAMES C. CARRUTHERS
Official no. : C131090
Type at loss : propeller, steel, bulk freight
Build info : 1913, Collingwood Shipbuilding, Collingwood, Ont. hull# 38
Specs : 529x58x27 7862gc 5606nc
Date of loss : 1913, Nov 11
Place of loss : off Kincardine, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 25 [all]
Carrying : 10,000 t wheat
Detail : This modern steamer was overwhelmed and foundered in the
"Big Storm" of 1913. Probably capsized in the greatest Great
Lakes storm on record. She was brand-new and was the largest Canadian
laker when lost.
(Wreckage said to be found in late 80's.) In the year 2000, rumours
abound as to the location of the wreck. It is said that divers from
Kincardine are currently diving on a 500’ wreck near Point Clark.
Should this information be verified, the vessel is most likely the
remains of the Carruthers.
JACQUES
CARTIER
Other names : none
Official no. : C71253
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight "steambarge"
Build info : 1870, Napoleon Muron, Detroit built as a pass & pkg
freight vessel
Specs : 85x19x5, 74gc 66nc
Date of loss : 1878, Oct 28
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Wrecked in a storm, but there is little detail. Out of Windsor.
Location & date also given as "near Kincardine, Nov,
1878."
Sold Canadian in 1875.
CLAYTON
Other
names : none
Official No. : 4332
Type at loss : bark, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1854, John Oades, Clayton, NY
Specs : 136 ft, 298 t.
Date of loss : 1868
Place of loss : unreported
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : collision
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail
Reg. out of Chicago
(Huron County museum records cite 1868 June collision with E. Corniey at
Goderich)
COLONEL
CAMP or COLONEL E. CAMP
Other names : none
Official No. : none
Type at loss : bark, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1854, A. Wilcox, Three Mile Bay, NY
Specs : 137(oa)x26x11, 350 t.
Date of loss : 1856, Sep 20
Place of loss : Near the Manitous Islands, northern Lake Michigan
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss : collision
Loss of life : none
Carrying : wheat
Detail : Downbound for Oswego, she sank following a collision with the
steamer PLYMOUTH (see 1913 loss) and went down in a few minutes.
Owned by Col. E.E. Camp of Sackett’s Harbor and homeported at Oswego
(Huron County Museum seems to report vessel of same name &
description 1854, Dec 04 wrecked at Goderich)
COLONEL
CARRY
Other names : ?
Official no. : none (C)
Type at loss : bark, wood, 3-mast
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : 1854
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail. See FRANCE.
LILY
DANCEY
Other names : none also seen as LILLIE DANAY
Official no. : C none
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1856, Marlton, Goderich, Ont.
Specs : 92x21x10, 132gc 125nc
Date of loss : 1865, Nov 7
Place of loss : near Port Elgin or Kincardine, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : grain
Detail : She was driven ashore by a gale and vessel and cargo were
reported a total loss, but her cargo was later recovered. The vessel
broke up by Nov 27. Probably owned by Dancy & Marlton, Goderich.
Also sunk near Port Elgin, Ont., in 1856.
Shown in 1866 Canadian Lake Underwiter's List as "on the
beach."
DREDGE –
off Bayfield, 65’ depth, 1932 (see Star) This vessel has be ‘found
in the year 2000 by a sports fisherman and boater, Joe Durand. He has
provided the Bayfield Historical Society with a heritage presentation
related to this site. The exact location is yet to be made public.
DUNDENBURY
– schooner, reported to be in collision with prop Empire State, 1868,
Aug, at Goderich, HCM records.
EVENING
STAR
Other names : none
Official no. : C ?
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1882, Ashfield, Ont.
Specs : 56x18x7, 52 gt.
Date of loss : 1894, Sep 12
Place of loss : Fisherman Bay, near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Stranded and wrecked in a north'er.
Registered out of Goderich; (Another vessel – same name? Captain
Thorburn, 5m N of Harbour, 5m offshore.. check Signal 1868, Jun 11)
EXCHANGE
Other names : none
Official no. : C61141
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1867, J. Cusson, Bay City, MI
Specs : 73x16x5, 34gc 34nc
Date of loss : 1873
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : "Wrecked" no detail. Registration documents were
surrendered in Mar, 1884.
Sold Canadian in 1871.
FRANCE
Other names : ?
Official no. : none
Type at loss : bark or schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : 1854
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : "lost"
Loss of life : all but one
Carrying : ?
Detail : Foundered or stranded. A captain whose vessel was stranded at
Kettle Point, Ont. reported the loss of a 3-master near Goderich in Dec
1854. May be this vessel or COL. CARRY (qv).
GENERAL
MEADE – moved to Bone Yard, no date; also 2 scows (listed with Olga,
1905; source: Star
GILLY or
GILLEY
Other names : built as schooner B. ET T.
Official no. : C138139
Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood
Build info : 1916, Anse St. Jean, PQ as a schooner
Specs : 73x28, 94gt
Date of loss : 1937, Sep 18
Place of loss : 12 mi N of Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : stranded
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Stranded and lost.
Rebuilt from a schooner to a tug in 1920.
GOLIAH
Other names : often seen as GOLIATH
Official no. : none
Type at loss : propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info : 1846, O.M. Goodsell, St. Clair, MI
Specs : 131x26x9, 279 t.
Date of loss : 1848, Sep 13
Place of loss : off Lexington, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : explosion/storm
Loss of life : 18 (all)
Carrying : gen. merch, lumber, bricks and 205 kegs of blasting powder
Detail : Sparks from her stack apparently started a fire which touched
off her cargo, resulting in a blast which reduced the upper part of the
vessel to floating matchwood. The floating remains of the steamer
drifted ashore near Goderich, Ont., on the 20th. The main wreck was
discovered by Dave Trotter, Undersea Research Associates in the early
1980s about 10 miles SE of Harbour Beach in about 140’ of water. The
bottom of the hull is in good shape, with the engine in place and
completely exposed, some of the stern rail, and the Ericson twin screws.
Owned by D.N. Barney of Buffalo.
Probably also the vessel which sprung a leak and was wrecked off Black
R., Lake Erie, in 1846.
EDWIN F.
HOLMES – 1913, Nov 11, Goderich – no other information
HONELIA
– schooner, collision at Goderich, 1864, Nov, no other information;
HCM
LEWIS
HOTCHKISS
Other names : none
Official no. : C
Type at loss : barge, wood
Build info : 1870, Morrill, Collingwood (or Goderich or Owen Sound)
Specs : 210x40x13, 1001 t.
Date of loss : 1891, Sep 5
Place of loss : 25 mi W of Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Foundered, no other detail.
Out of Toronto
She was the largest lumber vessel on the lakes from the time she was
built 'til 1886, when the WAHNIPITAE(qv) was built
LADY ELGIN
Other names : ?
Official no. : C
Type at loss : scow-schooner, wood
Build info :
Specs : "small"
Date of loss : 1887, Oct 23
Place of loss : 1 mi above Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : (none)
Carrying : ?
Detail : She drove ashore in a gale the 23rd and was reported
broken up by the 26th.
Capsized in a gale and Nov 12, 1882 and lost all 3 hands near Chantry
Island, Southampton, Ont..
LURLINE
Other names : none
Official no. : C90780
Type at loss : steam yacht and cargo vessel, wood
Build info : 1888, W. Lane, Walkerville, Ont.
Specs : 79x16x8, 66gc 40nc
Date of loss : 1907, Oct 26
Place of loss : at Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Wrecked while entering the harbor, total loss. (collided with
breakwater: Star)
MAGGIE
Other names : built as schooner SPEEDWELL, renamed when sold Canadian
Official no. : C none
Type at loss : scow-schooner, wood
Build info : 1847, Sanford & Moses, Cleveland
Specs : 94x23x9, 160 t.
Date of loss : 1871, Aug 31
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : lumber
Detail : Bound Tawas for Detroit, she went ashore and was wrecked.
Out of Montreal.
Recovered: vessel MAGGIE built Cleveland, 1847 as SPEEDWELL, sold
Canadian, 1861, and rebuilt to 97x22x8, 106 t. 2-mast schooner.
"sold by U.S. Marshall Mar. 1881."
MALAKOFF
Other names :
Official no. : US
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 18??
Specs :
Date of loss : 1857, Nov
Place of loss : 4 miles off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm/foundering
Loss of life : none
Carrying : coal
Detail : Bound Cleveland for Chicago, she encountered a gale and was
forced onto a reef near Nine Mile Point, Straits of Mackinac, where she
was temporarily abandoned Oct. 21. On Nov 5, the tug RESCUE pulled her
off and was making for Detroit in heavy weather when the canvas jacket
over the hole in her hull washed off and the pump which was keeping her
clear of water clogged with coal. She sank by the head in 30 feet of
water. Only her cargo and the valuable pump were saved.
Rebuilt at Milan OH, in 1856-7.
A Canadian propeller MALAKOFF also existed at this time. Burned at
Montreal in 1859.
MALTA - shoreline South of Bayfield, 1882, Nov; check records with
Bayfield Archives for available details.
MARINE
CITY
Other names : none
Official no. : 50516
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2 mast
Build info : 1866, Somers, Marine City, MI as a schooner-barge
Specs : 147x28x11, 338g 321n
Date of loss : 1901, Nov 11
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont. (said to be 5-6 miles off entrance to
Port of Goderich, source: Star)
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 4 [all]
Carrying : pulpwood
Detail : Bound Blind River, Ont. for Detroit, she went on the rocks at
Scarecrow Isl., S of Thunder Bay, MI and was abandoned by her crew. She
later slipped off the reef and drifted out into the lake. Steamer INDIA
found her abandoned and put 4 men aboard in heavy seas to tow her in,
but she drifted away and finally wrecked near the Canadian side.
Built at 128x27x9, 367 t., rebuilt and enlarged in 1875.
MARIPOSA -
steamer, 1918, Oct., Goderich – no other information
MARY
Other names : ?
Official no. : none
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : about 1835
Specs : 40 t.
Date of loss : 1844, Fall
Place of loss : mouth of Saginaw Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : foundered
Loss of life : (none)
Carrying : ?
Detail : She swamped and was abandoned in the mouth of the Bay, wreckage
drifting ashore near Goderich a few days later.
MARY AND
LUCY
Other names : none
Official no. : C77773
Type at loss : scow-schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1855, Roderick Calkins, Cleveland [US# 17571]
Specs : 94x23x7, 113gc/nc*
Date of loss : 1879, Nov
Place of loss : shore of Chantry Isl. near Southampton, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 3
Carrying : pine lumber
Detail : She was driven into the shallows and wrecked by the action of
waves. Four crewmen from the steamer MANITOBA attempted to take her crew
off, but their yawl capsized and 3 of them were lost.
Out of Goderich, Ont.
Sold Canadian, 1879, after wrecking near Goderich.
*Original measurements - rebuilt and enlarged at Algonac, MI, in 1866.
MARY
WATSON
Other names : none
Official No. : C none
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1853, G. Ford, Goderich, Ont.
Specs : 72x17x8, 69 t.
Date of loss : 1858, Oct 10
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : coal and salt
Detail : Reported ashore and wrecked in a storm. (behind (old)north pier
– Geminhart)
MAYFLOWER
Other names : none
Official No. : 16400
Type at loss : brig, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1844, A.A. & S.W. Turner, Cleveland
Specs : 104x24x9, 209 t.
Date of loss : 1867
Place of loss : unreported
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Foundered in a squall.
Probably also the vessel that capsized off Black River, OH, in 1864,
killing 8.
(records at HCM refer to Goderich?)
NARRAGANSETT
Other names : none
Official no. : 18110
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1861, Quayle & Martin, Cleveland
Specs : 140x26x12, 317g 301n
Date of loss : 1901, May 13
Place of loss : off Port Sanilac, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : Her old hull sprang a leak and the vessel waterlogged. She was
abandoned by her crew, but the steamer ADVANCE later picked her up and
towed her for 3 hours before she sank 11 mi off Goderich, Ont. She had
been bound Detour for Port Huron for repairs. Crew landed at Harbor
Beach the 14th.
Also reported wrecked near Hammond Bay, L. Huron, in the great gale of
1872. She was on her first lakes trip after a five-year venture on the
Atlantic seacoast.
major repair in 1880
NIAGARA
– 1863, Sept., Signal ?
G.D.
NORRIS
Other names : none sometimes seen as MORRIS, D.G. NORRIS
Official no. : 10336
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1856, G.W. Jones, Cleveland
Specs : 128x26x11, 262g 252n
Date of loss : 1887, Oct 24
Place of loss : near midlake
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : lumber
Detail : . Bound Bay City for Cleveland in tow of OSWEGATCHIE(qv), she
sank to her decks in a gale, later drifted ashore near Goderich, Ont.
Her crew were rescued by the passing steamer BRECK. The stranded wreck
was turned over to her U.S. owners on the 28th. Final disposition
unknown, but document was surrendered at Port Huron in 1888.
Major repair in 1883. Rebuilt in 1871.
OLGA
Other names : none
Official no. : 155029
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood
Build info : 1881, Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, as a schooner
Specs : 137x30x10, 308g 293n
Date of loss : 1905, Nov 26
Place of loss : NE of Oscoda, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : (lumber)
Detail : She was lost from the tow of the steamer F.A. MEYERS during a
gale and was abandoned by her crew when she began to sink. They were
picked up by the steamer MAUNALOA, which was out looking for her own
lost barge MARSALA. OLGA drifted about for several days, becoming a
serious hazard to shipping, 'til she finally went ashore near Goderich,
Ont., and broke up. (said to be in Bone Yard; source: Star)
PARISIEN
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : unreported
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : 1890
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : "lost"
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail
PFOHL
Other names : built as propeller ST. PAUL, renamed in 1902
Official no. : 23755
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info : 1868, T. Arnold, Marine City, MI as a passenger/package
freighter
Specs : 198x31x11,
Date of loss : 1905, May 20
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : She caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank.
Originally 760 g., 525 n
Rebuilt 1882, major repair, 1884, rebuilt to bulker in 1902
PHILLIPS
– tug; 1932, Mar 31, sunk in Goderich Harbour; raised and 1932, Sept
15 beached in bone yard (Star)
PINAFORE
– 1887, Oct 04, as reported in the Star, no other information.
E.W. RATHBUN
Other names : none also seen as E.W. RATHBURN and RATHBURNE
Official no. : C
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1866, J. Tait, Mill Pt. Ont.
Specs : 149 ft, 200 t.
Date of loss : 1886, Oct 19
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : coal
Detail : She foundered in a westerly gale. The crew clung to her rigging
until rescued by a "government boat".
Out of Napanee
ROCKAWAY
Other names : none
Official no. : none
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1852, A.S. Pruyn, Gibralter, MI
Specs : 66x20x5, 53 t. om
Date of loss : 1858
Place of loss : offshore from Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : unreported
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail
Owned by D. O’Callaghan of Detroit.
RUSSIA –
1909, Dec 09 – (needs newspaper search)
ST.
ANTHONY
Other names : ?
Official no. : none
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : ?(1856, Erie, PA - sister of schr ST. PAUL)
Specs : ?
Date of loss : 1856
Place of loss : off Goderich
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : "lost"
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : No detail.
SCOTIA –
1928, Aug 16 – to bone yard: Signal
STARLIGHT
Other names : also seen as STAR-LIGHT
Official no. : 22390
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1857, Kirby & Tripp*, Saginaw as a bark
Specs : 134x30x11, 307g 292n
Date of loss : 1883, Nov 17
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 4 [wrecking crew?]
Carrying : two large steam pumps plus ?
Detail : She broke loose from the tug ANDREW J. SMITH in a tremendous
gale and was lost.
Out of Chicago
Rebuilt, 1867 at Detroit, rebuilt to schooner, 1873
*Martin Smith given on 1st enrollment document
STERLING
Other names : none
Official no. : C none
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1850 or earlier, Geo. Stinks, Port Burwell, Ont.
Specs : 54x7x7, 49 t.
Date of loss : 1856
Place of loss : near Toronto
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : She was reported ashore and wrecked. Out of Port Burwell.
Another schooner STERLING was reported lost at Goderich, Ont, in 1833.
KAY STONS
– steamer, Goderich, 1861 November; HCM records.
TECUMSEH
Other names : none
Official no. : C80774
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info : 1873, Hyslop & Ronold, Chatham, Ont.
Specs : 200x30x13, 839g 530n
Date of loss : 1909, Jan 16
Place of loss : in harbor at Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : She burned to a total loss at her winter berth. (raised and
moved to Bone Yard: Star)
Sunk in Marquette, MI, harbor in 1898.
Foundered 9 miles off Gore Bay in 1901.
Major repair, 1874
TIGRESS
– 1812 warship; check with Phil Geminhart, Bayfield. (oral report)
WILLIAM
TREAT
Other names : none
Official no. : 26170
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood, bulk freight
Build info : 1856, Wm. Treat, Euclid, OH as a brig
Specs : 146x35x11, 389g
Date of loss : 1883, Oct 3
Place of loss : Port Albert, Ont, N of Goderich
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : lumber
Detail : Bound Bay City for Detroit in tow of tug J.P. CLARK with a
group of other barges, she wallowed and became unmanageable in a storm.
She was cut adrift by next barge forward, SEMINOLE, and abandoned off
Sand Beach on the 27th. She drifted with her decks awash 'til part of
her crew paddled 20 mi ashore in a makeshift raft. The rest of the crew
and the boat came ashore on Canadian side the 3rd.
TROY
Other names : none
Official no. : none
Type at loss : sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info : 1845, F.N. Jones, Maumee, OH
Specs : 182x28x11, 546 t. om
Date of loss : 1860
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : unreported
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Lost from unknown causes. Lhl shows her abandoned the next
year. Owned by Buffalo & Lake Huron RR.
Exploded and burned at Black Rock, NY, Mar 23, 1850, with loss of 22
lives [newspaper clippings say many fewer]. Recovered and rebuilt the
next year.
MARY
WATSON
Other names : none
Official no. : C none
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1853, G. Ford, Goderich, Ont.
Specs : 72x17x8, 69 t.
Date of loss : 1858, Oct 10
Place of loss : off Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : coal and salt
Detail : Reported ashore near the "north pier" and wrecked in
a storm.
Owned by the Seymours of Goderich.
WESTERN
STAR
Other names : ?
Official no. : (C?)
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : (1854, Bliss, (Sheboygan))
Specs : (102x28x9)
Date of loss : 1854, Nov
Place of loss : near Goderich, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : unreported
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Wrecked, no detail.
(Owned by A.P. Lyman of Sheboygan)
WEXFORD
Other names : built as WEXFORD, renamed ELISE in 1890, named WEXFORD
again in 1894.
Official no. : C87342
Type at loss : propeller, steel, bulk freight "3-island"
Build info : 1883, Doxford and Sons, Sunderland, Eng. hull# 145
Specs : 250x40x17, 2800 t
Date of loss : 1913, Nov 10
Place of loss : off St. Joseph’s, Ont.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 17 [all]
Carrying : steel rails
Detail : She was overwhelmed and sunk by the "Big Storm" of
1913.
Wreck reportedly discovered in 1975, but the location is still a secret.
During a sidescan sonar search of the Black’s Point area, South of
Goderich, in the summer of 2000, the wreckage was definitively
identified, South of the search zone, following its accidental discovery
by a Grand Bend fisherman, Don Chalmers. The first documentation dive
was completed by Don Chalmers, Bob Carey – Chair of the Port of
Goderich Marine Heritage Committee, and Brent Bamford, Acting President
of the Goderich Chapter of ‘Save Ontario Shipwrecks’. Sidescan work
was completed by David Trotter, Undersea Research Associates on the tug
‘Danel Mac’ owned by Dick Peever, Maitland Valley Marina. Additional
sidescan work will continue in the Goderich area in 2001 to provide
additional clues about the unexpected wreckage site further South than
all evidence indicated. An official survey is proceeding under license
to Bob Carey of the Marine Heritage Committee by the Province of
Ontario.
(See information elsewhere on this web page.)