1867.

Shipbuilding active. - Throughout the season of 1867 lake freights were not discouraging, the average on wheat being 6 cents, 8 cents, and the highest, 15 cents, and although the times had not improved since the rush of 1865, there were not a few who felt hopeful of a repetition of the former scenes, and to this end shipbuilding, with a large increase of tonnage, began during the early winter of the year, and, ere navigation had fairly resumed, 14 propellers, 16 barkentines and 69 schooners were ready to float, beside nine tugs.

Successful Voyage Through Niagara Rapids. - In 1867 the new Maid of the Mist, which had been built in 1854, and could not be made a success financially, was sold for about half her cost to be delivered in Niagara, opposite Fort Niagara. Joel R. Robinson, her captain, undertook to pilot the vessel down the river, and a large number of persons collected on the banks to witness the attempt to pass through the rapids. She started on her dangerous voyage June 15, 1867, and her smoke stack was carried away almost immediately. She listed badly in the beginning of her voyage, and after reaching the whirlpool she showed an even keel, and thus this first voyage through the rapids was success- fully made.

Only two European voyages were made this season by lake vessels. The bark Celia, Captain Hunter, sailed from Toronto for Liverpool, April 16, with a cargo of plaster; the schooner Naragansett, Captain Murphy, November 6, with petroleum. The schooners Chenango and Dreadnaught were also chartered, but did not depart.

Disasters During 1867. -- Nine hundred thirty-one disasters were reported during year of navigation on the lakes, and 211 lives lost. Total tonnage, 13,344 tons; total valuation, $675,000.

Burned on the St. Lawrence. -- The steamer Wisconsin burned on the evening of May 21, on the St. Lawrence river, six miles from Grenadier island, with a loss of life reaching 23 or more. When the fire was discovered the boats were gotten ready, and the vessel was headed for the shore. Considerable confusion existed. The Wisconsin had about 70 passengers aboard. She was the property of the Northern Transportation Company, and plied on Lakes Ontario and Erie, touching at Ogdensburg, Oswego, Cape Vincent, Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit. She was built in 1852, and was 552 tons burden.

Other Events of 1867. -- February 23: Navigation opened between Detroit and Amherstburg, the steamer Pearl plying. March 25: Navigation opened on the Saginaw river; 26, steamer Sea Bird commenced plying on Lake Michigan. April 8: Navigation opens between Detroit and Cleveland by arrival in Cleveland of the steamer Morning Star; 17, scow Reindeer capsized on Lake St. Clair, sustaining injuries by which she sank near Hog island. Navigation opens to Chicago April 22d. Schooner Antares sunk near Manistee. Schooner Helen Kent, 144 tons, ashore and abandoned at Brown's Pier, Mich. Severe storm on Lake Huron April 25th. Schooner Hope, of Sheboygan, sunk on Lake Huron. Schooner Merrimac No. 2, 269 tons, foundered off Long point, Lake Erie; five men drowned. May 1: Ship carpenters and caulkers receive $4.50 per day at Chicago for eight hours' work; 5, Buffalo harbor blockaded with ice for several days and a large fleet delayed outside; 9, second opening of Buffalo harbor and vessels departed; 21, heavy northeast gale throughout the lake region with much loss to shipping: schooners M. F. Merrick and Wellington collide in straits of Mackinac. June: Tug Tempest arrived at Detroit from Philadelphia. Steamer Admiral Porter passed up from the seaboard. Steamer Washington passed Detroit en route to Lake Michigan from the seaboard. Tug Relief exploded on Saginaw river. Tug Waters W. Brayman burned at Point Pelee; a total loss. July: Brig Orkney Lass, lost on Lake Erie with all hands. Tug Balize, formerly the Mary Grandy, arrived at Detroit from New York City. Tug H. Johnson exploded on the Saginaw river, and four persons were killed. The U. S. lighthouse steamer Haze arrived at Detroit from New York for lake service. Propeller Gen. E. H. Paine passed Detroit en route to Lake Michigan from New York City. August: Tug Dispatch, burned at Sandusky. Propeller Granite State damaged by collision on Lake Erie. Bark Mary Stockton sunk in Cleveland harbor. Propeller Magnet sunk by collision with steamer Bay State in Lake Ontario. September: Schooner Yankee Blade sunk in St. Clair river. Propeller Saginaw and bark Oneonta collide off Clay Banks. Tug Clematis, formerly the Mary Love, arrived at Detroit from New York City. Tug W. R. Muir exploded in the St. Clair river, killing seven. Schooner Light Guard with 19,902 bushels of wheat passed through the Welland canal, the largest cargo on record; 26, violent northeast gale throughout the lake region. October: Schooner Sacramento, of Cleveland, wrecked at Gull island reef. Bark Portsmouth and scow Frankie Wilcox collide at Point Pelee, resulting in damage to both. Propeller Oswego and schooner Grace Murray collide at Cleveland, resulting in slight damage to each. Scow Free Mason capsizes and sinks in Detroit river; three lives lost. Schooner Mary Elizabeth, 187 tons, foundered in Lake Erie, and all hands, seven in number, lost. November: Propeller Acme, 762 tons, of Northern Transportation Co. line, sunk near Dunkirk. Brig General Worth, wrecked off Barcelona; 3, schooner Admiral, 167 tons, went to pieces near Toronto, during a storm. Brig St. Joseph collides with the barge Alpha in the St. Clair river, resulting in damage to the latter. Schooner W. B. Hibbard, ashore at Southampton, Ont., total loss. Propeller Oswego wrecked near Dunkirk; five lives lost. Propeller North burned in St. Clair river. Propeller Antelope burned at Buffalo. Propeller Portsmouth, 525 tons, becomes a total loss at Middle island, Lake Huron. December 10: Navigation closes between Detroit and Cleveland.

Other Casualties. -- Propeller Sunnyside, 113 tons, lost at Pine river, Lake Michigan. Bark O. Stevens, 320 tons, wrecked in Georgian Bay. Bark R. G. Winslow, 499 tons, wrecked on Spectacle reef, Lake Huron. Bark Tubal Cain, 226 tons, lost at Two Rivers, Lake Michigan. Brig Fox, 405 tons, lost on North Harbor reef, Lake Erie. Brig Mayflower, 219 tons, lost on Lake Huron.

The following named vessels were all schooners: Rose Dousman, 133 tons, lost near Buffalo with three lives. Byron, 180 tons, sunk by the schooner Canton in Lake Michigan. Commerce, 183 tons, wrecked at South Haven, Lake Michigan. Isabella, 180 tons, wrecked on Long Point, Lake Erie. Wellington, 198 tons, lost on Skillagalee. Barney Eaton, 166 tons, lost with three lives on Lake Michigan. Carrie Woodruff, 127 tons, lost on Lake Michigan. W. A. Glover, 162 tons, lost near Toronto. John Thursby, 360 tons, lost at Grand Traverse. Grape Shot, 369 tons, wrecked on Plumb island. Maple Leaf, 299 tons, wrecked on Detroit island. Kate Doak, 146 tons, lost at Pere Marquette with two lives. Wave, 180 tons, lost at Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario. Portland, 394 tons, wrecked at False Presque Isle, Lake Huron. Chieftain, 303 tons, wrecked on Lake Michigan. J. Dresden, 116 tons, wrecked at St. Joseph. Hanover, 237 tons, lost in Green bay. Gold Hunter, 386 tons, wrecked at Point Pelee. Albemarle, 270 tons, lost in Mackinac Straits. Snowbird, 180 tons, foundered in Lake Erie. Queen of the Bay, 73 tons, wrecked near Oswego. H. B. Steele, 118 tons, lost in Sturgeon bay. Commodore Foote, 180 tons, sunk by schooner Kilderhouse in Lake Huron. Carthagenian, 374 tons, lost on Lake Ontario. B. F. Davy, 459 tons, wrecked at Port Colborne. M. A. Rankin, 126 tons, wrecked near Buffalo. Corinthian, 368 tons, lost on Long Point. Baltic, 369 tons, wrecked at Oswego. C. G. Alvon, 308 tons, wrecked on Lake Ontario.

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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.