Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Gordon Campbell
• Other Names: Strathmore (1905)
• Official Registration Number: 85184 (U.S.); C116813 (Canada)
• Date Built and Launched: 1871, by Campbell & Owen, Detroit, Michigan
• Master Carpenter: S.R. Kirby
• Hull Number: 19
• Measurements: Length: 205.5 ft (62.6 m) Beam: 32.5 ft (9.9 m) Depth: 13.1 ft (4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 996.14 tons
• Net Tonnage: 709 tons
• Capacity: 1,280 tons
• Final Date of Loss: November 8, 1906
• Place of Loss: Near Michipicoten Island, Lake Superior

Vessel Type

The Gordon Campbell was a wooden-hulled package freighter with steel reinforcement, designed for transporting both bulk goods and general freight across the Great Lakes. As a Screw-Propelled Vessel with twin engines and twin screws, it was among the more advanced wooden freighters of its era, capable of handling the increasingly heavy demands of Great Lakes commerce.

Built in Detroit, Michigan, in 1871, the Gordon Campbell featured a for-and-aft compound engine setup, powered by four cylinders and two boilers, driving twin propellers. This setup allowed for more efficient propulsion and better maneuverability compared to single-screw vessels of the time. The Hull was constructed primarily of wood but reinforced with steel chords inside the frames to enhance durability and strength.

Throughout its operational life, the vessel underwent several rebuilds and overhauls, including a major Rebuild in 1888which increased its Gross Tonnage to 1,100.69 tons and added a steam pump well and an iron boiler house.

The Gordon Campbell began service in October 1871, arriving in Chicago from Detroit on her maiden voyage. By 1872, she was owned by the Erie & Western Transportation Co. of Erie, Pennsylvania, and served in regular freight routes connecting Buffalo, Chicago, and Milwaukee, operating in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, the vessel was a familiar sight on the Great Lakes, regularly transporting goods and towing schooners. Notably, in 1880, the ship encountered heavy weather off Northport, Michigan, which caused the Deck load to shift and led to flooding of the engine house.

On July 1882, the Gordon Campbell collided with the two-masted schooner Thomas C. Wilson off the coast of Racine, Wisconsin. The impact caused the Thomas C. Wilson to sink, although the Schooner was later recovered and returned to service. This collision marked a significant event in the Campbell’s operational history, illustrating the dangers of navigating congested shipping lanes in the Great Lakes during the peak of maritime activity.

By 1888, the vessel was owned by the Lake Superior Transit Co. and had undergone substantial modifications to improve its cargo capacity and durability. The vessel saw a series of ownership changes in the 1890s and early 1900s, passing through various companies, including Barry Brothers Transportation Co. and Ontario Navigation Co..

In 1905, the ship was sold to George Plunkett et al. of Cobourg, Ontario, and renamed Strathmore. The vessel transitioned into package freight service on the St. Lawrence River, continuing to transport goods along the extended Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system.

Final Voyage and Wreck (1906)

On November 8, 1906, while bound from Fort William to Kingston with a cargo of wheat, the Strathmore (formerly Gordon Campbell) encountered a violent storm near Michipicoten Island on Lake Superior. The vessel struck bottom, sustaining severe Hull damage. The compromised Hull allowed water to flood the cargo holds, and the ship was eventually pushed by the storm into deeper water where she burned and ultimately sank.

There are no reports of fatalities associated with the wreck of the Gordon Campbell/Strathmore. The crew likely Abandoned the ship after it struck bottom and before the vessel burned and sank, a fortunate outcome given the dangerous conditions on Lake Superior.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Gordon Campbell/Strathmore remains submerged near Michipicoten Island in Lake Superior. The vessel’s final resting place is part of the many shipwrecks that populate the treacherous waters of Lake Superior, an area notorious for sudden storms and hazardous shoals.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings have been issued related to the Gordon Campbell/Strathmore, though Michipicoten Island and the surrounding waters remain areas of interest for maritime historians and shipwreck divers.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• C. Patrick Labadie Collection

Conclusion

The Gordon Campbell/Strathmore exemplifies the evolution of Great Lakes freighters from wooden-hulled vessels to more reinforced, steam-powered ships designed to meet the growing demands of regional commerce. Her long operational life, marked by collisions, rebuilds, and eventual wreck on Lake Superior, highlights both the resilience and risks inherent in 19th and early 20th-century maritime operations. From her early days serving the Erie & Western Transportation Co. to her final service in Canadian waters, the vessel reflects the dynamic history of Great Lakes shipping and the technological innovations that shaped it.

Suggested Keywords: Gordon Campbell package freighter, Strathmore shipwreck, Michipicoten Island shipwrecks, Lake Superior maritime history, Great Lakes wheat transport, Thomas C. Wilson collision.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Superior, Wooden Freighters of the Great Lakes, Great Lakes Collisions, 19th Century Maritime Disasters.

Glossary Terms: Package Freighter, Screw Propulsion, Lake Superior Shipwrecks, Michipicoten Island Navigation Hazards, Great Lakes Wheat Trade.