The Celtic was a schooner-barge that met its tragic fate on November 29, 1902. Here are the details of the vessel and its loss:
Official number: 126662
Type at loss: Schooner-barge, wood, 3-mast
Build info: Built in 1890 by Jas. Davidson in West Bay City, hull #39
Specifications: Measured 190 feet in length, 34 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 716 and a net tonnage of 680.
On the day of its loss, the Celtic was carrying a cargo of coal. While traveling upbound, it broke its towline during a fierce gale, resulting in the ship being lost with all hands on board. The storm took place at the northern end of Lake Huron. Sadly, there were no survivors among the crew of eight.
In the aftermath of the incident, wreckage from the Celtic was discovered near the southeast point of Cockburn Island, Ontario. The wreck itself was located offshore in November 1903. The steamer H.E. Runnels had been towing the Celtic at the time of the accident. The Celtic was owned by Spence Bros. of Cleveland, and its master was Henry G. Jeffreys.
News reports at the time documented the loss of the Celtic and the subsequent discovery of wreckage. It was a somber event that highlighted the dangers faced by mariners in the treacherous storms of the Great Lakes.
The schooner Celtic had a gross tonnage of 716 and a net tonnage of 680. It was built in West Bay City, Michigan, in 1890. Its home port was Port Huron, Michigan.
The loss of the Celtic serves as a reminder of the challenging conditions and risks faced by sailors on the Great Lakes, particularly during severe storms.
