1879.

A Scow Fleet Meets Disaster. - Serious disaster overtook a fleet of four tugs, three dredges and 18 scows, which left Cape Vincent November 17, for Buffalo. They encountered a terrific gale on Lake Ontario. Most of the tugs cut loose from their tows and many were beached or sunk. They were near Oswego when the snow storm reached its height. About 12 lives were lost. One dredge, two derricks and ten scows were wrecked.

Loss of the Waubuno. - The most serious disaster of 1879 was the loss of the Canadian steamer Waubuno, which foundered on Georgian Bay in November, with a loss of thirty lives. The manner of her destruction is unknown. Other loss of life during the season brings the total up to about 50.

The series of storms which swept over the lake from November 15 to November 24, 1870, proved unusually destructive to vessel property and life. Within those dates no less than 65 vessels met with disaster exclusive of the dredging fleet. With one or two exceptions the mishaps were all due to heavy weather.

From the shipowner's standpoint the season of 1879 was generally a good one.

Other Events of 1879. - March 7: Scow Restless, of Racine, wrecked at Ludington. May 21: Schooner Kate Richmond raised and taken to Cleveland. June 21: Tug Satellite sunk off Whitefish Point. July: Scows Butcher Boy and S. B. Conkling damaged by lightning at Cleveland. September: Steamer Bertschy wrecked off Port Austin reef; steamer Geo. S. Frost burned at Erie. October: Tug Starkweather sunk on Lake Erie, near Cleveland; schooner Wm. B. Ogden sunk at Goderich, Ontario; schooner O. M. Bond sunk at Sand Beach; schooner Eliza Garlach, sunk on Lake Erie, raised and towed to Cleveland. November: Schooner Gold Hunter, ashore at Thunder Bay reef, went to pieces; schooner C. G. Breed capsized near Point Pelee; several lives lost, among whom was Capt. Harry Rose, of Detroit; schooner Sumatra wrecked off Cleveland; schooner Wacousta stranded at Presque Isle; schooner W. B. Phelps ashore near Glen Arbor and a total wreck; five of crew drowned; schooner Two Fannies went to pieces at Elk Rapids; steamer City of New York waterlogged at Ludington; steamer John A. Dix sunk at Manistee.

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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.