IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION:
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
The Jacques Cartier was originally built as a wooden steam barge designed for passenger and package freight service. Later in its career, the vessel was repurposed as a bulk freight carrier. The steam barge was relatively small, with a length of 85 feet and a gross tonnage of 74, making it suitable for regional transport across the Great Lakes.
HISTORY:
The Jacques Cartier was constructed in 1870 by Napoleon Muron in Detroit, Michigan. Initially serving as a passenger and package freight vessel, the barge was sold to Canadian owners in 1875. Over the years, it transitioned into a bulk freight carrier, a common practice for aging vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
On October 28, 1878, Lake Huron was hit by a powerful gale, one of the most severe in recent memory. The Jacques Cartier, caught in the midst of the storm, was wrecked approximately eight miles north of Goderich, Ontario. The specific circumstances of the wreck are not detailed in available records, but it is known that some of the crew had to swim ashore, suggesting the vessel was overwhelmed by the storm’s intensity.
FINAL DISPOSITION:
The Jacques Cartier was left heavily damaged following the wreck. Although there were efforts to salvage the vessel, the prospects were bleak, and the steam barge likely became a total loss. However, the machinery from the Jacques Cartier was salvaged and repurposed for use in a new tug being constructed in Marine City. The recovered machinery underwent maintenance at the Fitzgerald Foundry in Port Huron, preserving at least part of the vessel’s legacy.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
- Current Notices: There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the wreck site of the Jacques Cartier. Due to the lack of detailed coordinates, the exact location remains undocumented and unmarked.
LOCATED BY & DATE:
- Discovery: The wreck of the Jacques Cartier has not been located or documented in modern times. The exact site of the wreck remains unknown, with no confirmed exploration or recovery.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
KEYWORDS:
Jacques Cartier, Steam Barge, Lake Huron, Great Lakes Storm, Shipwreck, Maritime History, Great Lakes, Wreckage, Salvage, 1878.
CONCLUSION:
The wreck of the Jacques Cartier stands as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Despite the vessel’s transition from passenger service to bulk freight carrier, it could not withstand the brutal storm that overtook it in late October 1878. The crew’s desperate efforts to survive, with some swimming to shore, highlight the perilous conditions. Though much of the vessel was lost to the lake, the salvaged machinery continued to serve, offering a small legacy of resilience in the face of disaster. The Jacques Cartier’s final resting place remains a mystery, leaving a chapter of Great Lakes maritime history yet to be fully uncovered.
