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Showing posts with label Manitoulin Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manitoulin Island. Show all posts

December 18, 2017

1881 Georgian Bay Shipwreck Found with Corpses

On November 25, 1881 the ship "Jane Miller" was reported missing on a passage between Collingwood Ontario and Manitoulin Island. The wreck of that ship has just been found - mostly intact - and with human remains.

Here is one of several newspaper announcements at the time


Markdale Standard (Markdale, Ont.1880 ), 9 Dec 1881, p. 2

Names from the newspaper article: 

Crew: A. Port, R. Port, F. Port, J. Christian, Alex. Seales, Gilbert Corbet + 3 deckhands

Passengers: J. B. Hallock, S. Thompson, J. Walker, Mr. Jestin, L. Vader, J. Gillespie, Capt. Malcolm McLeod, M. Hill, L. Butchart and wife + 10 labourers

Another newspaper account provides these names of the lost:

A Port, owner, R. D. Port, captain,.F. Port purser, all of Wiarton. J. Christison engineer, Red Bay; Alex. Scales, wheelsman, Keppel; Gilbert Corbet, fireman, Owen Sound; four deck hands, names unknown, J. Jestin, Port Elgin; J. Holeek, S. Thompson, of Meaford, I Hutshart and wife, Tobermorry; R. Gillespie; Jas. Hope, Sydenham; Capt. McLeod, Goderich; Mr. Hill, Collingwood Township. 

The names of the others are not known but they were a number of labourers engaged in work at Watt's mill, Lion's Head and McLandress shanty Tobennorry.  [Source: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/59542/data]

Continue reading the full story on The National Post's story: Georgian Bay shipwreck from 1881 found mostly intact with possible human remains on board