The events described above took place in November 1872 on Lake Superior. The barges SATURN and JUPITER, both owned by Capt. E.B. Ward, were carrying iron ore from Marquette to Wyandotte in tow of the steam tug JOHN A. DIX. However, they broke loose from the tug during a gale and drifted ashore near Whitefish Point. All hands on board both barges, a total of thirteen crew members, were lost in the incident.
Around the same time, the schooners W.O. BROWN and C.C. GRISWOLD were also lost during the same gale. The W.O. BROWN was laden with grain from Duluth, and the C.C. GRISWOLD was carrying ore from Marquette. The crews of both vessels were feared lost initially, but later information confirmed their tragic fate.
The attempt to recover the barges JUPITER and SATURN was abandoned due to the dangerous conditions, and the wreckage of the vessels remained embedded in sand and broken up.
These incidents highlight the perilous nature of navigation on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, where sudden storms and rough weather conditions could lead to the loss of vessels and crew.
