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On April 19, 1922, the Canadian Government ship (CGS) Lambton was the scene of a disaster. The ship was intended to respond to specific weather conditions on Lake Superior at Parry Sound, Ontario. On July 15, a memorial plaque was unveiled in memory of those who perished in this tragic event. UCTE would like to take the time to tell its story.
CGS Lambton
It all began at Caribou Lighthouse, located some 150 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, almost halfway between the American and Canadian sides of the lake. It is well known that the weather on the Great Lakes, especially during the winter, is difficult to overcome. Before the CGS was sent on the Lake Superior mission, J. George Penfold, a lighthouse keeper from Port Arthur, became the new keeper of the Caribou Lighthouse. He was to take on this mission by ‘small boat’ but objected to this request, writing letters to officials in Ottawa. They had decided to remove lightkeepers from government steamers. It was then that CGS Lambton was sent out from Parry Sound. J. George Penfold, who knew the lake well, wrote in his report that the Lambton was unfit to make the trip; the removal of the lightkeepers should be done from Lake Superior in December.
The dangerous conditions were a source of great concern to travellers. Many people at the time claimed that the Lambton was unstable and did not sail well in any type of sea. Although J. George Penfold tried to publicize the situation, giving the conditions on the Lake, the government of the day ignored his warnings. Some time later, the CGS Lambton sailed to Sault Ste. Marie to pick up three lightkeepers and two assistants to deliver them to their respective lighthouses: Parisienne Island; Caribou Island and Michipicoten Island. The departure was to be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18. There were several reports of high winds on the lake and heavy snowfall in some areas.
The storm hit on April 19. Calls were sent out to recall all ships to the Port of Parry Sound. The Glenfinnan reported seeing the Lambton at 2:00 p.m. that day, about 40 miles from Whitefish Point towards Caribou Lighthouse. On the 23rd, a radio communication was transmitted from Sault Ste. Marie to Parry Sound stating that there had been a communication error and that the vessel sighted was not the Lambton, but a pilot house covered in white and red paint, mistaken for the ship.
A search plan was immediately put in place to locate the Lambton amid ice fields, thick fog, and numerous other weather events making the search for the vessel very difficult. After an hour and a half, they arrived at the place where they thought they would find the Lambton, but … no sign of her! They subsequently searched Montreal Island, Lizard Island, Leach Island, and along the main shore to Gargantua … still nothing. On April 29, the search was still active. On the 30th, the search team concluded that there was little hope for the survival of the crew and passengers. The Lambton was predicted to have
sunk at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 1922, in the vicinity of Caribou Island, taking the lives of 27 men, 22 crew members, three lightkeepers, and two helpers. No bodies were ever recovered from the icy depths of Lake Superior. With the sinking of the ship, eight women were widowed, 28 children were left fatherless, parents lost sons, and siblings lost brothers.
One hundred years later, on July 15, the CCG base in Parry Sound unveiled the first plaque commemorating this event. The health and safety of today’s workers is the culmination of stories such as this one. It is important to remember those who died in similar accidents. This accident could probably have been avoided if the federal government had taken the time to consider J. George Penfold’s report. We must listen to people like him and continue to work to improve workplace safety.
George W. Johnston had served as the lightkeeper at Caribou Lighthouse on Lake Superior from 1912 to 1921. The station was located approximately 150 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, nestled between the American and Canadian sides of the lake. The isolated nature of the station and the treacherous weather conditions made it necessary for my grandfather to take measures to ensure his safety. In 1916, he installed a Detroit gasoline engine in his sailboat and built a cabin for protection against the harsh elements.
In 1921, my grandfather transitioned to the role of Inspector of Fog Alarms, which led our family to Parry Sound. J. George Penfold took over as the new keeper of the Caribou Light Station. When my grandfather informed Penfold that he would have to use a small boat to leave the station at the end of the season, Penfold protested and wrote letters to officials in Ottawa. Eventually, the government dispatched the C.G.S. Lambton from Parry Sound to transport the lightkeepers.
Upon returning from the voyage, my grandfather submitted a report stating that the Lambton was ill-suited for removing lightkeepers on Lake Superior in December. He highlighted various deficiencies, such as low decks that allowed even small waves to come aboard, light upper and deck housing susceptible to damage, poor maneuverability, exposed and freezing steering gear, lack of accommodation for keepers and their families, and dangerous handling of lifeboats and davits.
Unfortunately, despite my grandfather’s extensive knowledge of boats and the weather conditions on Lake Superior, his warning went unheeded. The following spring, the Lambton set sail to pick up lightkeepers and assistants for various stations. On April 19, 1922, a severe storm struck, engulfing the Lambton and raising concerns about its whereabouts. Search efforts were initiated, and my grandfather, accompanied by the G.R. Gray tug, joined the search operation.
The search spanned several days, covering various islands and shores. However, the chances of finding the Lambton and any survivors grew increasingly dim. Wreckage was discovered, confirming the tragic fate of the ship. It was believed that the Lambton had likely been lost somewhere between Caribou Island and Gargantua during the powerful storm.
After the search concluded, my grandfather returned to Parry Sound, where he found a solemn reminder of the disaster—a door from his previous room aboard the Lambton, which he had taken as a memento. The sinking of the Lambton was a heartbreaking event, resulting in the loss of 27 lives and underscoring the importance of heeding the expertise and warnings of those familiar with the treacherous conditions of Lake Superior.
