Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: TECUMSEH
• Official Number: C (unregistered or Canadian registry without specific number)
• Type at Loss: Schooner (also described as a steambarge)
• Builder: H. Marlton Goderich, Ontario
• Year Built: 1862
• Specifications: Length: 111 ft (33.8 m) Beam: 29 ft (8.8 m) Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 245
• • Net Tonnage: 196
• Date Lost: November 27, 1882
•  Cause: Stranded and wrecked in a storm
• Place of Loss: Eastern end of Cove Island, Lake Huron
• Cargo: Lumber
• Loss of Life: None

Vessel Type

TECUMSEH was originally built as a wooden Schooner but has also been described in historical records as a steambarge, suggesting possible modifications later in her service life to accommodate auxiliary steam power.

Description

Constructed during the height of Great Lakes Schooner activity, TECUMSEH served in the lumber trade, which was vital to the economies around the Great Lakes in the 19th century. The vessel’s broad beam and moderate depth made her well-suited for carrying heavy timber loads across Lake Huron and other connected waterways.

History

Launched in 1862 in Goderich, Ontario, TECUMSEH was owned and operated primarily out of Canadian ports, with E.J. Peters of Windsor serving as both owner and captain later in her career. The vessel underwent major repairs in 1878, indicating either significant damage or an overhaul to extend her service life.

For two decades, TECUMSEH worked the lakes, likely hauling lumber from ports along Lake Huron’s eastern shoreline to growing industrial centers in the U.S. and Canada. She operated during a time of transition from sail to steam, and her classification as both a Schooner and steambarge suggests she may have been adapted to meet the changing demands of Great Lakes shipping.

Final Disposition

In late November 1882, TECUMSEH encountered a severe gale while attempting to seek shelter near Cove Island, part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park today. During an attempt to maneuver to safety, she missed her stays (failed to complete a tack), forcing the crew to drop anchor. Despite these efforts, the anchors could not hold against the storm’s force, and the vessel was driven ashore.

The Schooner’s Yawl boat washed away, leaving the crew stranded. Resourcefully, the sailors constructed a makeshift raft to reach Cove Island. Upon reaching the island, they discovered the lighthouse was closed for the season but managed to locate the station’s Yawl. In a remarkable feat of endurance, the crew rowed 9 miles to the mainland, successfully surviving the ordeal.

Shortly after the wreck, the insurance company dispatched the wrecking Tug ERIE BELLE to attempt salvage operations. However, the Tug was recalled before significant efforts could be made, possibly due to the extent of damage or insurance assessments. Over the following summer, TECUMSEH broke apart, with no further salvage attempts recorded.

Resources & Links

•  Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Parks Canada – Fathom Five National Marine Park

Conclusion

TECUMSEH serves as a testament to the challenges faced by 19th-century Great Lakes sailors. Her loss near Cove Island reflects the perilous conditions that mariners endured during the era of sail and early steam. The survival of her crew through sheer determination and ingenuity adds a human element to the story, emphasizing both the dangers and resilience characteristic of Great Lakes maritime history.