1870
The wooden propeller tug TORNADO had her boiler explode without warning 4 miles northwest of Oswego, New York. The tug sank quickly into deep water. Three of the six onboard lost their lives. Apparently, the tug had a new boiler, and it had been allowed to run almost dry. When cold water was let in to replenish the supply, the boiler exploded.
1871
The three-mast wooden schooner GOLDEN FLEECE was downbound on Lake Huron laden with iron ore. The crew mistook the light at Port Austin for the light at Pointe Aux Barques and steered directly for the Port Austin Reef, where the vessel grounded. After 200 tons of ore were removed, GOLDEN FLEECE was pulled off the reef then towed to Detroit by the tug GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN and repaired.
1899
The WILLIAM B. MORLEY (steel propeller freighter, 277 feet, 1,846 gross tons, built in 1888 at Marine City, Michigan) and the LANSDOWNE (iron side-wheel car ferry, 294 feet, 1,571 gross tons, built in 1884 at Wyandotte, Michigan) collided head-on in the Detroit River early in the morning. Both vessels sank. The LANSDOWNE settled on the bottom in her slip at Windsor, Ontario, and was raised four days later and repaired. The MORLEY was also repaired and lasted until 1918 when she stranded on Lake Superior.
1900
The McMorran Wrecking Company secured the contract for raising the 203-foot, three-mast wooden schooner H.W. SAGE, which sank at Harsen’s Island on July 29, 1900. The SAGE had been rammed by the steel steamer CHICAGO. Two lives had been lost; they were crushed in her forecastle.
1907
A building fire at the Toronto Island ferry terminal spread to the ferry SHAMROCK, and it was badly burned and sank. Running mate MAYFLOWER also caught fire but was pulled from the dock by TURBINIA, and this blaze was extinguished. SHAMROCK, however, was a total loss and was towed to Hanlan’s Point. The latter ship was replaced by the still-active TRILLIUM in 1910.
1924
The Lake Ontario rail car ferry ONTARIO NO. 2 went aground in fog on the beach at Cobourg, Ontario, but was refloated the next day.
1928
HURONIC went aground at Lucille Island and needed hull repairs after being released.
1929
The CITY OF SAGINAW 31 (Hull #246) was launched at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. for the Pere Marquette Railway. She was christened by Miss Ann Bur Townsend, daughter of the mayor of Saginaw.
1953
A record 176 vessels passed through the Soo Locks.
1977
The BELLE RIVER’s bottom was damaged at the fit-out dock and required dry docking for repairs prior to her maiden voyage. Renamed b.) WALTER J MCCARTHY JR. in 1990.
1985
VANDOC, en route from Quebec to Burns Harbor, went aground in the St. Lawrence outside the channel near St. Zotique but was released the following day.
1994
CATHERINE DESGAGNÉS, outbound at Lorain, struck about 30 pleasure boats when a bridge failed to open.
2000
ANANGEL ENDEAVOUR was in a collision with the IVAN SUSANIN in the South-West Pass and was holed in the #2 cargo hold and began listing. The ship was anchored for examination, then docked at Violet, Louisiana, and declared a total loss. It was subsequently repaired as b) BOLMAR I and was operating as c) DORSET when it arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan, for scrapping on April 24, 2009. The ship first came through the Seaway in 1983.
Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Jody L. Aho, Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Compiled by Roger LeLievre.
-
- Huronic on the rocks in 1928. Peter B. Worden collection, MHSD
