1. IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
2. VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The MARY E. McLACHLAN was originally constructed as a wooden schooner in 1893 by F.W. Wheeler Co. at West Bay, Michigan. Built of oak, the vessel was diagonally strapped and fastened with iron. It had four masts and was the largest wooden schooner on the Great Lakes at the time of its launch. Over its operational life, the vessel underwent several modifications and rebuilds, eventually becoming a lake barge by 1918. The barge was noted for its significant size and cargo-carrying capacity, with gross tonnage increasing from 1,394 tons at launch to 1,762 tons after its 1918 rebuild.
3. HISTORY #
The MARY E. McLACHLAN had a storied career on the Great Lakes, marked by both incidents and achievements. At the time of its launch in 1893, the vessel was owned by McLachlan Transportation Co. of Port Huron, Michigan. The launch event was notable, as the wave generated by the vessel’s entry into the water capsized a small steamer carrying spectators, tragically resulting in one drowning.
Throughout its operational life, the vessel encountered multiple incidents, including sideswiping the American steamer KITTIE M. FORBES in 1895 and suffering a broken pipe in 1896, which resulted in part of its corn cargo getting wet. The MARY E. McLACHLAN also experienced grounding in Black Bay, Lake Huron, in 1913, and underwent various repairs and maintenance over the years, including a significant caulking of the topsides in 1909.
In 1916, the vessel came under Canadian registry, and in 1917, it was purchased by the Montreal Transportation Co. for $40,000. Following its acquisition, the barge received a new stem and underwent repairs at Port Huron and Sarnia, Ontario, before resuming cargo operations in June 1918. The MARY E. McLACHLAN was later sold to Canadian Towing and Wrecking Co. as part of a package deal in exchange for the vessel VINMOUNT.
4. FINAL DISPOSITION #
The MARY E. McLACHLAN met its end on November 7, 1921, when it sank in a storm in Nipigon Bay, Lake Superior. The vessel was caught in severe weather and foundered, marking the end of its nearly three-decade-long service on the Great Lakes. The exact circumstances of the sinking, including the fate of the crew, are not detailed in the available records.
5. NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories specifically related to the wreck of the MARY E. McLACHLAN. The location of the wreck remains unspecified.
6. LOCATED BY & DATE #
The wreck of the MARY E. McLACHLAN has not been located, or details of its location are not readily available. The barge is presumed to have sunk in Nipigon Bay, Lake Superior, on November 7, 1921.
7. CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
Since the wreck of the MARY E. McLACHLAN has not been definitively located, its current condition and accessibility are unknown. If found, the site would likely be of interest to maritime historians and divers, though the condition of a wooden vessel after nearly a century underwater may be significantly deteriorated.
8. RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Montreal Transportation Co. Annual Directors’ Reports (1918, 1920)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Directors’ Minutes (July 10, 1917; December 13, 1919)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Ships’ Logs (Atikokan, June 5 – July 30, 1917; Mary E. McLachlan, May 1 – July 3, 1918)
- Alpena Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Database
- American Bureau of Shipping Great Lakes Register (1919, 1921)
- American Shipmaster’s Association Record of American and Foreign Shipping (1894-99)
- Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register (1914, 1915)
- Canada List of Shipping (1918)
- Gillham, Ships in Trouble 1850-1930
- Green’s Marine Directory of the Great Lakes (1916)
- Merchant Vessels of the United States (1903)
- Milwaukee Public Library Great Lakes Marine Collection
- Marine Record (November 14, 1895; May 7, 1896)
- Port Huron Daily Times (March 3-4, 1893)
9. ADDITIONAL NOTES #
The MARY E. McLACHLAN’s transition from the largest wooden schooner on the Great Lakes to a lake barge illustrates the changing needs and technologies in maritime transportation over the early 20th century. Despite the vessel’s large size and impressive capacity, its career was marked by various challenges, including multiple groundings, repairs, and eventual sale and conversion. The sinking of the barge in 1921 highlights the ever-present dangers faced by vessels on the Great Lakes, particularly during the stormy late autumn months.
10. DIVING NOTES & RECOMMENDATIONS #
As the wreck of the MARY E. McLACHLAN has not been located, diving is not currently possible. If the wreck were to be discovered, it would likely require advanced diving skills due to potential depth and the condition of the wooden structure. Any exploration should be conducted with respect for the historical significance of the site.
TAGS #
- Lake Superior
- 19th Century
- Wooden Schooner/Barge
- Maritime History
- Shipwreck
CONCLUSION #
The MARY E. McLACHLAN, originally launched as the largest wooden schooner on the Great Lakes, served a lengthy and eventful career before sinking in a storm in 1921. The vessel’s history reflects the broader trends in maritime transportation and the challenges of operating on the Great Lakes. Though its wreck remains undiscovered, the MARY E. McLACHLAN remains an important part of Great Lakes maritime history.
