Today in Great Lakes History – July 16

1861
1861:  CATARACT (wooden propeller, 15 feet, 352 tons, built in 1852 at Buffalo) caught fire 5 miles off Erie, Pennsylvania. She became an inferno astern in just a few minutes, and this prevented her boats from being launched. Four died. Some were saved by clinging to floating wreckage, and some others were rescued by a small fishing boat. The schooner ST. PAUL picked up some survivors. Among those picked up by Captain Mosher of the ST. PAUL were Captain McNally and the CATARACT’s carpenter. Capt. Mosher had rescued these same two men in 1858 when the propeller INDIANA was lost in Lake Superior.

1873
1873:  The new barge MINNEAPOLIS was towed to Detroit for outfitting. She had just been launched four days earlier at Marine City, Michigan. While on the way to Detroit, a Canadian man named Sinclair fell overboard and drowned.

1874
1874:  The Port Huron Times reported that “the old steamer REINDEER has been rebuilt to a barge by L.C. Rogers at H.C. Schnoor’s shipyard at Fair Haven, [Michigan]. Her beautiful horns have been taken down [she carried a set of large antlers], her machinery and cumbersome side-wheels removed, and she has been fully refitted with center arch and deck frame complex.”

1911
1911:  MAINE, upbound with a load of coal, caught fire in the St. Clair River and was run aground on the Canadian shore. The crew escaped.

1935
1935:  The BRUCE HUDSON capsized on Lake Ontario off Cobourg, Ontario, while in tow of the wooden-hulled tug MUSCALLONGE.

1958
1958:  The Swedish freighter ERHOLM and the FRANK ARMSTRONG of the Interlake fleet were in a collision in northern Lake St. Clair with minor damage to both ships. ERHOLM had earlier been a Great Lakes caller as a) ERLAND and later came through the Seaway in 1959–1960. It returned inland again in 1961 and 1962 as c) OTIS. The ship arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, for scrapping as h) DIMITRA K. on August 25, 1980.

1961
1961:  NORTHERN VENTURE, a.) VERENDRYE of 1944, entered Great Lakes service upbound light for the Canadian lakehead to load grain.

1961:  The PIONEER CHALLENGER entered service. Built in 1943 as the T3 tanker a.) MARQUETTE, renamed b.) U.S.S. NESCHANIC (AO-71) in 1943, c.) GULFOIL in 1947, d.) PIONEER CHALLENGER in 1961, e.) MIDDLETOWN in 1962, and f.) AMERICAN VICTORY in 2006.

1973
1973:  Keel-laying of the CHI-CHEEMAUN (Hull #205) took place at Collingwood, Ontario, by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. for Ontario Northland Transport Commission.

1985
1985:  The SAGINAW BAY departed Quebec City in tandem with the E.B. BARBER, towed by the Polish tug KORAL for scrapping at Vigo, Spain.

1986
1986:  DETROIT EDISON of 1955 departed Quebec City along with former fleet mate SHARON in tow of the U.S. tug PRUDENT to Brownsville, Texas, for scrapping.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody Aho, Joe Barr, Dave Swayze, Mike Nicholls, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Compiled by Roger LeLievre.

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