Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: TEMPEST (also known as TEMPEST 2ND and TEMPEST No. 2)
• Official Number: 145105
• Type at Loss: Propeller, Wood, Bulk Freight
• Builder: D. Robertson, Grand Haven, Michigan
• Year Built: 1876
• Specifications: Length: 138 ft (42.06 m) Beam: 27 ft (8.23 m) Depth: 11 ft (3.35 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 370 tons
• Net Tonnage: 260 tons
• Date Lost: June 28, 1909
• Cause: Fire While Unloading
• Place of Loss: Galnais Dock, Parry Sound, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
• Cargo: Coal
• Loss of Life: 6 of 12 crew members (conflicting reports suggest no casualties, but contemporary news articles confirm fatalities)

Vessel Type

The TEMPEST was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter, designed primarily for transporting heavy cargoes such as coal, grain, and lumber across the Great Lakes. This type of vessel represented the evolution from Schooner-barges to more efficient steam-powered freighters capable of independent operation without the need for towing. Her design was typical of the post-Civil War era, focusing on maximizing cargo capacity within the constraints of wooden shipbuilding technology.

Description

Built in 1876 by D. Robertson in Grand Haven, Michigan, the TEMPEST measured 138 feet in length, with a beam of 27 feet and a Draft of 11 feet. She was a robust vessel for her time, capable of handling bulk freight operations along the challenging routes of the Great Lakes.

Powered by a single screw propeller, she was engineered for both coastal and open-lake navigation, making her a versatile asset for her owners. Despite being constructed of wood, she was part of the transitional period before steel hulls became dominant on the lakes.

Her operational history was marred by repeated incidents, including an earlier fire in October 1888 at Marine City, Michigan, which was initially thought to be a Total Loss. However, she was salvaged and returned to service, demonstrating the resilience common to many Great Lakes freighters of the era.

History

The TEMPEST served extensively in the bulk freight industry, transporting commodities crucial to the industrial growth of the Great Lakes region. Coal, her final cargo, was a particularly hazardous material to handle due to its flammability—an inherent risk when combined with wooden ship construction and the use of open flames or sparks near unloading docks.

After her 1888 fire at Marine City, she was restored and continued operations, a testament to both her value and the determination of her owners to maintain her in service. However, her aging wooden Hull and outdated fire safety measures made her vulnerable during cargo operations, especially when handling volatile materials like coal.

Final Disposition

On June 28, 1909, while unloading a cargo of coal at Galnais Dock in Parry Sound, Ontario, the TEMPEST caught fireunder circumstances that remain unclear. Some reports suggest that a spark from unloading equipment or the ship’s own machinery may have ignited coal dust—a common hazard in such operations.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the wooden structure of the vessel almost instantly. Despite being docked, the crew had little time to react. Of the 12 crew members on board, 6 tragically lost their lives, either trapped by the flames or succumbing to smoke inhalation. The survivors managed to escape, some by jumping into the water to avoid the intense heat.

While some maritime records, such as the MVUS (Merchant Vessels of the United States), initially reported no loss of life, contemporary newspaper accounts confirm the fatalities, emphasizing the chaos and speed with which the disaster unfolded.

The vessel was declared a Total Loss, with the fire reducing her to charred remains within hours. Given her age and the extent of the damage, no attempts were made to salvage or Rebuild her.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime History
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Library and Archives Canada
• Parry Sound Historical Society
• Great Lakes Vessel Database

Conclusion

The loss of the TEMPEST in 1909 serves as a poignant reminder of the hazards faced by maritime workers on the Great Lakes. Her story reflects the dangerous nature of coal transport aboard wooden vessels, particularly as they aged beyond their prime. The conflicting records regarding the loss of life highlight the importance of primary historical sources, like newspaper accounts, in preserving the true human cost of maritime disasters.

While she now rests forgotten beneath the waters of Parry Sound, the TEMPEST remains part of the region’s rich maritime legacy—an emblem of both the resilience and vulnerability of Great Lakes freighters at the turn of the 20th century.