Identification & Site Information

•  Name: George Thurston
• Other Names: David Thurston (in some sources)
• Official Number: C77639
• Type at Loss: Bark, wood, 3-mast
• Builder: Geo. Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
• Date Built: 1857
• Specifications: Length: 135 feet (41.15 m) Beam: 26 feet (7.92 m) Depth: 12 feet (3.66 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 307 tons (277.4 m³)
• Net Tonnage: 307 tons (277.4 m³)
• Date of Loss: October 23, 1882
• Place of Loss: Near Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay
• Lake: Huron
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Cargo: Wheat
• Owner at Loss: Unknown (likely private owners or a shipping company operating in the region)

Vessel Type & Design

The George Thurston was a wooden Bark—a three-mast vessel primarily used for cargo transport. Barks were commonly used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century for shipping bulk freight like grain, coal, and timber. The vessel was built by Geo. Thurston in Kingston, Ontario, and had a respectable Gross Tonnage of 307 tons. The 3-mast configuration allowed the vessel to take advantage of both wind power and towing to navigate the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage & Loss

The George Thurston was returning from a trip to Algoma Mills and was laden with wheat. On October 23, 1882, it encountered a severe storm on Lake Huron near Georgian Bay. The vessel stranded on a reef southwest of Byng Inlet. Despite efforts to prevent the inevitable, the storm pounded the vessel to pieces on the rocky reef. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, as the crew survived the ordeal, but the ship was a Total Loss.

Interestingly, the George Thurston had been ashore near Point Edward on Lake Huron back in 1876, but it had been able to recover from that incident. After the storm and wreck near Byng Inlet, it was clear that the vessel had run its course.

Final Disposition & Recovery

The George Thurston was reported to be pounded to pieces on the reef near Byng Inlet after the storm. There is no evidence to suggest that the wreck was ever salvaged, but it was likely broken up or lost beyond recovery. The wreck remains a part of the marine history of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Byng Inlet is a narrow and often hazardous stretch of water, particularly during the fall months, when violent stormscan cause sudden and treacherous conditions.  Georgian Bay is known for its rocky shorelines and shallow reefs, making navigation difficult in adverse weather conditions.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The George Thurston was a three-mast Bark that was wrecked by a storm near Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay, on October 23, 1882. The vessel, which had a cargo of wheat at the time, was pounded to pieces on a reef, but no lives were lost. While the vessel had experienced previous mishaps, including a stranding near Point Edward in 1876, it could not survive the storm that ultimately destroyed it. The loss of the George Thurston is a testament to the dangers faced by Great Lakes vessels in the 19th century during the stormy fall months.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Georgian Bay shipwrecks, Great Lakes storm losses, 19th-century bark wrecks, wheat cargo loss

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwrecks, Bark-type vessels of the Great Lakes

Glossary Terms: Bark, Storm Loss, Byng Inlet, Wheat Cargo