Shipwrecks on Lake Superior

hese records have been transcribed from microfilm copies of early Michigan newspapers. New records will be added as they are transcribed. All records are recorded as is, including mispellings and unusual punctuation, to give the researcher a feel for the original. Since the original newspapers were in varying states of preservation when they were microfilmed, quality of the microfilm copy varies. If you would like to donate transcriptions to this page (pre-1927, please, due to copyright restrictions), please send an e-mail to the coordinator. ~B~ BUCEPHALUS; DREADFUL SHIPWRECK We learn from Capt. Sweet of the S.B. Northerner, that on his way up, on Wednesday afternoon about 5 o'clock, he came upon an immense quantity of fragments of the upper works of a Steamer. They were evidently portions of an Upper Cabin Steamer, and they were scattered for a mile in extent over the water. The scene of the wreck was from three to four miles east of Bois Blanc Island and almost within sight of Mackinac. Capt. Sweet examined with the utmost care the floating fragments of the wreck, but could discover no human beings to tell the story of the terrible catastrophe. It would seem that the Steamer must have been blown or broken into a thousand pieces and it is not likely a soul has survived. Nothing was known of it in Mackinac, but Capt. Sweet had learned that two Propellers had passed down the Lake a few hours before, one of which he had met, and the other, which is supposed to be the Bucephalus, is likely to have been the terribly destroyed vessel. Lake Superior Journal, vol. 4 no. 6, 25 Jun 1853, p. 2. ~G~ GRACE; TERRIBLE DISASTER - THE LITTLE STEAMER GRACE LOST AND TWO PERSONS DROWNED Yesterday a report was brought from Whitefish Point by a passing tug to the effect that the little steamer Grace had been lost and several persons drowned. The report was hardly credited, as it was known she had gone to Goulais Bay. This afternoon the Ste. Marie came into the canal with flag at half-mast, which at once confirmed the report. The Grace left here Thursday morning to take some men and tools to Goulais Bay. It seems that a short distance from Gros Cap the engine gave way, leaving the little boat and a small scow she was towing at the mercy of the waves. She drifted from there to about two or three miles this side of Whitefish Point, some twenty-five miles, where she went ashore early yesterday morning. One man, Robert Holmes, was drowned in attempting to reach the shore, and Thomas S. Stonehouse dropped dead, probably from exposure or over exertion, soon after reaching land. There were about half a dozen other persons on board, who were saved. Mr. Stonehouse was one of our oldest and most respected citizens. The boat belonged to the engineer, Ed. Currier, who purchased her a short time since. She was not in condition to go in any waters where there was a sea. The late hour at which the news was received prevents giving further particulars. - [reprinted from](Chippewa County News, Sault Ste. Marie) DETROIT FREE PRESS, OCTOBER 22, 1882 (submitted by Esther Thompson) ~I~ INDEPENDENCE; PROPELLER INDEPENDENCE ASHORE We learned by last arrival of Propeller Manhattan, that the Independence, Capt. Ryder, went ashore near Bad River, a few miles this side of La Pointe, n the night of the 7th inst. Before she had discharged her cargo at Ontonogan, the wind commenced blowing heavily from the Northeast and she was compelled to leave that place and run for a lee at La Pointe. She went ashore on a sand beach, and we are in hopes she will be got off uninjured, though the want of vessels on the lake and the lateness of the season may prevent. The Steamer Baltimore, Capt. Wilson, has gone to take off freight and passengers, and we wait her arrival for full particulars. The loss of the services of this fine vessel at this late season of the year will be severely felt; she was the largest craft on Lake Superior and was needed to carry forward the winter supplies, which are now accumulating at this place on their way to the mines. It is now too late in the season for other vessels to take her place on the lake, and the business of the whole country will be affected by this accident, and the want of the Ship Canal at this place will be felt more than ever, and we hope it will be the means of urging our Legislature to provide in the most speedy manner for its construction. Lake Superior Journal, vol. 3 no. 22, 13 Oct 1852, p. 2 ~M~ MERCHANT; LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MERCHANT We have for some time puposely abstained from mentioning the fears that have for two or three weeks been entertained for the safety of the schooner "Merchant," on Lake Superior, which left this port for L'Anse on the 12th June, and since which no tidings whatever have been heard of her. But as all hope now seems to be given up by our citizens, we regret we are compelled to announce that she has undoubtedly been lost and all on board have found a watery grave, having probably gone down on the night of the 13th, at which time it is known that a severe gale raged on the Lake. She had on board seven passengers and seven in crew - Capt. Robert Brown, of the Swallow, having commanded at the time, in consequence of the illness of Capt. Moore, who was detained on shore. Among the passengers, were J.H. Woods and E. Gregory, of Pontiac, Mich., and L.C. Smith and Geo. Howard, of Norwalk, Ohio, all of whom had been employed by the Nat'l Mining Company and were on their way to its Location. The names of the other passengers we are unable to give or those of the crew, until the return of Capt. Moore, who has gone up the Lake with a view of visiting the Caribou Islands, in the hope of finding some trace of his vessel as she must have been somewhere in that vicinity at the time the gale occurred. The owners of the "Merchant," we understand, were Messrs. Coe and Coit, of Detroit. Lake Superior News and Mining Journal, vol. 1 no. 16, 10 Jul 1847, p. 2 THE SCHOONER MERCHANT Nothing has yet been heard of this unfortunate vessel, and a doubt can no longer exist as to her fate. Besides the names of those knwon to have been on board, which we have previously mentioned, we are now enabled to add, Mr. J. Dyer, Mate, whose family resides in Gault, Canada West, and Daniel Ford, James Cramer, and James Clark, seamen, of Port Sarnia; Isaac Adams, seaman, England; and Willis Moore, (colored) cook, Detroit. Three of the passengers whose names cannot be learned, were lumbermen from Vermont, and had been engaged to work at the L'Anse mills. Lake Superior News and Mining Journal, vol. 1 no. 19, 14 Aug 1847, p. 2 MONTICELLO; Due to the size of the articles on this wreck, they have been moved to their own page. Please visit Wreck of the Monticello, October 1851 for details of this shipwreck. ~U~ UNKNOWN; BODY FOUND The body of one of the unfortunate boat's crew and party that perished last December on their way from the Carp River Iron Mines was found on the 26th inst., about twelve miles above this place, by some coasting Indians, as it was cast on shore near the place where it is supposed they were swept out of the boat, as they were entering the outlet of Lake Superior. It appears by the best information that can be obtained upon the subject, that the party arrived on the 4th of Dec. at White Fish Point, about 40 miles from Saut Ste. Marie, and were detained by boisterous weather until the evening of the 6th, when the wind hauled to the westward at 5 o'clock, P.M. (which in this latitude is dark) they unfortunately determined to attempt the run to the Saut. By refering to a Journal of the weather, it appears that about 11 o'clock that night, we were visited by one of the most terrific storms of wind and snow ever known in this region; which by calculation must have overtaken the voyageurs about mid-way between the two great capes that mark the entrance of the lake, which in rough weather is always a tempestuous and most difficult place to navigate. A gold watch found on the body which proved to be that of Mr. William H. Emmons, of Worchester, Massachusetts, had stopped at 20 minutes before 12; which likewise corroborates with the time that they probably perished. Upon the body was likewise found $200 in a belt, and several papers that may be valuable to his friends, now in the possession of Col. S. McKnight. An Inquest was held by S.R. Wood, Esq. and all the necessary information that could be obtained from the Indians, was taken - the body was burried on the 22d. An India-Rubber traveling bag with wearing apparrel was lately picked up, supposed to have belonged to Mr. Mann, of Chicago. There are still two bodies not yet found. Lake Superior Journal, vol. 1 no. 3, 22 May 1850, p. 2

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