Identification & Site Information
- Name: Agnes Smith
- Registry Number: CAN116244
- Date Built: 1904
- Place Built: Little Current, Ontario
- Builder: Smith and Henderson
- Dimensions: Length: 64 feet (19.5 meters); Beam: 15 feet (4.6 meters)
- Date of Incident: July 1912
- Location: East of Hotham Island, McBean Channel, North Channel, Lake Huron
- GPS Coordinates: Not specified
- Owner: Larue Smith
Vessel Type
Wooden cargo vessel
Description
The Agnes Smith was a wooden cargo vessel measuring 64 feet in length and 15 feet in beam. Built in 1904 by Smith and Henderson in Little Current, Ontario, the vessel was registered under the number CAN116244 and owned by Larue Smith.
History
In July 1912, while being towed to Sault Ste. Marie for repairs after salvage operations, the Agnes Smith ran aground on a shoal just east of Hotham Island and north of Fox Island in the McBean Channel of Lake Huron’s North Channel. The grounding led to a fire that burned the vessel down to the waterline.
Final Disposition
The Agnes Smith was destroyed by fire following the grounding incident in July 1912.
Located By & Date Found
No specific information available.
Notices to Mariners & Advisories
The shoal east of Hotham Island, where the Agnes Smith was lost, is typically marked with plastic jugs to indicate the hazard. Mariners navigating the area are advised to exercise caution.
Resources & Links
The Agnes Smith’s wreckage site features a significant amount of debris on both sides of the shoal. Remnants of two hulls, including engine mounts, are present on the north side, though most machinery was salvaged. The site is suitable for novice divers, with a maximum depth of 40 feet (12 meters). Access involves navigating westward in the McBean Channel from the entrance to McBean Harbour, proceeding northwest of Lee Island with caution, and moving slowly northwest until the shoal becomes visible, often marked by plastic jugs.
Suggested Keywords: Agnes Smith, shipwreck, North Channel, Lake Huron, Hotham Island, McBean Channel, wooden cargo vessel, 1912 maritime incident, Great Lakes shipwrecks
Categories: Maritime History, Shipwrecks, Great Lakes
Glossary Terms:
- Beam: The width of a vessel at its widest point.
- Shoal: A natural submerged ridge, bank, or bar that poses a navigation hazard.
- Salvage: The act of rescuing a ship, its cargo, and sometimes the crew from peril.
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