1877

Adrift on Lake Michigan. - During a severe storm November 8 and 9, the bark Great West, bound from Caseville for Chicago with lumber, became waterlogged off Waukegan. She lost her deck-load and yawl boat, and in that condition drifted along at the mercy of the winds. A raft was built on the evening of the 10th, and the crew of seven, who had been two days without food, boarded it and pushed away for the purpose of making land. But the wind shifted and the frail raft drifted northeast under a stiff breeze. All night they drifted and in the morning land was out of sight. Relief fortunately came from a fishing tug, the Black Maria, which had gone out to set nets.

Lost on a Reef. - The schooner Berlin, of Buffalo, struck the reef one mile above Grindstone City in the gale of November 8, and went to pieces. Four of the crew of six perished; two were drowned and two died from exposure while clinging to the wreckage. The Berlin was loaded with lumber from Marblehead to Bay City.

Two Total Losses. - Two losses which created considerable discussion during the closing of the season of 1877 were those of the schooners Kate L. Bruce and the Magellan. The Bruce and two other schooners were cut off from the tug Johnson off Four Mile Point, Lake Huron, during the storm of November 8. The Bruce was never heard of again, except that her yawl boat was picked up off Thunder Bay. The Magellan went down in Lake Superior, and it was suspected she had been struck by some unknown vessel.

The Lake Carriers. - The season of 1877 was a better one for the carriers than 1876. A few large owners made good margins, but no one was known to have cleared any large sum on sail craft. The long ice blockade in the Straits was a hindrance, and the up freights were unprofitable.

Other Events of 1877. - March 18: Steamer Powerful burned at Quebec. April: Tug Belle King sunk at Peach Point. Schooner Velocipede capsized and broken in two near Racine. May: Schooners R. J. Gibbs and Pelican sunk by collision with propeller Colorado in St. Clair river. Schooner Francis Berriman sunk on Lake Huron by collision with propeller David W. Rust. Schooner J. P. Chapin sunk at Chicago. Tug Wm. H. Pringle burned near Port Huron. June: Schooner Skylark sunk in Alexandria bag, St. Lawrence river. Propeller City of New York collides with the schooner America on Lake Superior. Propellers Maine and Commodore collide in St. Clair Flats canal. July: Scow Grand Army capsized near Kelley's island. Barge Dart burned at Sandwich, Ont. Steamers Cutler, Jr., and Centennial damaged by fire at Grand Haven. August: Schooner Bolivia sunk at the Harbor of Refuge. Schooner Lillie Parsons, sunk in the St. Lawrence river, abandoned. September: Steamer Francis burned near Sorel. British schooner China, sunk at Rondeau, is raised. scow Lydia Mac sunk near Port Stanley. October: Schooner Nettie Weaver wrecked near Kincardine. Scow St. Joseph sunk in Lake St. Clair by collision with schooner America. Schooner Eliza Turner wrecked at Long Point. Propeller Badger State and schooner Helen Blood collide in a fog off Port Huron. Propeller Tioga burned off Point Pelee. Propeller City of Toledo sunk near Alexandria bay. Steamer Chief Justice Waite damaged by collision at Put-in-Bay. November: Bark City of Tawas ashore and a total loss at St. Joseph. Barge Hickory sunk off Leamington, Ont. Schooner Ben Franklin ashore and total loss at Canby reef. Schooner Alma sunk at Port Hope. Lady Dufferin sunk at Erie, raised. Schooner C. North waterlogged at Chicago. Seventh Ohio wrecked at Chicago. Schooner Empire State ashore and total loss at Thunder Bay. Schooner Berlin ashore off Grindstone City; several lives lost. Schooner J. T. Miner a total loss at Caseville. Tug Thomas Thompson burned on Lake Erie.

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Volume II

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.