The Wreck of Fanny Campbell #
A Resilient Schooner Meets its Demise in a Violent Storm on Georgian Bay
On a fateful day in August 1898, the schooner Fanny Campbell, owned by J. Buckley of Sarnia, embarked on a voyage that would prove to be its last. Laden with a light cargo and bound for Johnston’s Harbor on Georgian Bay, the Fanny Campbell encountered treacherous conditions that would seal its fate.
The Fanny Campbell, often referred to as a bark due to its square upper and lower topsails on the foremast, was one of the renowned “old-canallers” that traversed the Great Lakes. Built by Louis Shickluna in St. Catharines in 1868, the vessel measured 139 feet on deck, 26 feet 2 inches in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet 5 inches. Weighing 346 tons, it was one of the largest vessels to navigate the Welland Canal.
Throughout its years of service, the Fanny Campbell had earned a reputation as a timber drogher, often carrying its own horses to assist in navigating the canals and loading square timber through the stern-ports. It even made one or more voyages across the Atlantic in the 1870s.
The vessel had a notable captain, Mrs. Buckley, who had taken charge of the Fanny Campbell when her husband fell ill. Mrs. Buckley, having studied and obtained captain’s papers, skillfully operated the vessel alongside her crew of six men and one or two mates. She was admired for her efficiency, agility, and dedication to her responsibilities as captain.
However, tragedy struck the Fanny Campbell in the fall of 1890. Caught in a relentless northeast gale near Harbor Beach on the west side of Lake Huron, the vessel was driven ashore. Despite the crew’s efforts to maintain control, the fierce winds and powerful waves proved too much to overcome. The sails likely tore, rendering the vessel helpless against the force of the storm.
The Fanny Campbell foundered in the breakers, eventually coming to rest on the sandy shore, two miles south of the harbor. The crew, faced with the looming danger, sought refuge in the rigging as they awaited rescue.
A U.S. lifeboat valiantly fought its way down the shore to reach the stranded vessel. The coxswain, Wm. J. Small, urged the crew to jump to safety as the lifeboat rose and fell with the tumultuous waves. However, the unexpected occurred when Mrs. Buckley, standing on the rail and clinging to the mizzen rigging, asserted her authority as captain.
“I’m captain of this vessel, and I’ll be the last to leave,” she declared resolutely. With unwavering determination, Mrs. Buckley instructed her crew to come down from aloft and jump to safety when the opportunity presented itself.
As each crew member obeyed their captain’s orders and found refuge in the lifeboat, Mrs. Buckley remained aboard the Fanny Campbell until all were accounted for. Only then did she make her final descent into the lifeboat, demonstrating courage and leadership that inspired those around her.
The Fanny Campbell, having met its untimely demise, was left wrecked on the shores of Lake Huron. Its proud history as an esteemed timber drogher and the remarkable story of its fearless captain would forever be remembered.
Though the vessel may have succumbed to the relentless forces of nature, the legacy of the Fanny Campbell lives on as a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who sail the Great Lakes and the unwavering
