The schooner NELLIE GARDNER encountered a devastating disaster during a violent gale on Lake Huron in October 1883. The vessel was in tow of the steam barge JOHN PRIDGEON Jr., seeking shelter in Thunder Bay. However, the severity of the storm caused the tow line to be cast adrift from the steamer. Tragically, the NELLIE GARDNER’s rudder became disabled at Thunder Bay, and her anchors were unable to hold her position. Drifting helplessly, the schooner struck a reef and eventually broke in two.
Despite the dire situation, the crew managed to make their way ashore safely using the yawl. Unfortunately, the NELLIE GARDNER suffered a total wreck near South Point, approximately one mile from Scare Crow Island, Thunder Bay. The ship was without insurance coverage, leading to its abandonment as a total loss. Efforts were made to strip the vessel before leaving it behind.
The NELLIE GARDNER was a substantial schooner, weighing 565.13 tons gross and 536.88 tons net. She had been constructed in Marine City, Michigan, in 1873, with measurements of 177.9 feet in length, 31.1 feet in width, and 13.2 feet in depth. The ship’s home port was Detroit, Michigan.
Ownership of the NELLIE GARDNER belonged to John Pridgeon of Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately, due to the lack of insurance on the vessel, the loss was a significant financial blow for its owner.
Adding to the devastation, the ship was carrying a valuable cargo of 39,000 bushels of corn from Chicago. Fortunately, insurance coverage had been obtained for the cargo, with a sum of $21,000 in protection.
The shipwreck of the NELLIE GARDNER was part of a series of disasters resulting from the violent gale that had been affecting Lake Huron and Michigan. Despite the loss of the vessel, the crew’s safety provided some relief amid the tragedy. The NELLIE GARDNER’s rapid descent into the depths of Lake Huron left behind a legacy of wreckage and grief, highlighting the unpredictable and dangerous nature of maritime voyages in the face of powerful storms.
