IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Aloha was a schooner-barge, a type of vessel that was common on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Schooner-barges were originally built as schooners, complete with sails, but were later converted to be towed by steamers. They were used primarily for transporting bulk cargo such as coal, grain, or other commodities across the Great Lakes. The Aloha, with its three masts, was typical of this design, offering the capability to sail if needed, though by the time of its sinking, it was being towed by a steamer.
HISTORY
The Aloha was launched in 1888 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and served as a cargo vessel for nearly three decades. Throughout its service, it experienced several notable incidents. In 1892, it collided with the schooner Josephine on the Lake George flats in the St. Mary’s River, resulting in the sinking of the Josephine. Later that same year, the Aloha ran aground at Sand Beach, Michigan, where it had to be unloaded before being refloated. The vessel underwent significant repairs in Port Huron later in 1892. By 1902, the Aloha was converted into a barge in Buffalo, New York, marking its transition from a sailing vessel to one primarily towed by steamers. In 1914, it came under Canadian ownership, and by 1917, it was owned by the Midland Transportation Company.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On October 28, 1917, the Aloha was being towed by the steamer C.W. Chamberlain from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Kingston, Ontario, with a cargo of 925 tons of coal. The coal was intended for the Canadian Locomotive Works. However, during a severe storm, the vessel began taking on water and eventually foundered near Nine Mile Point, close to Kingston. The storm, described as one of the worst in years, saw the Aloha swamped by waves, losing its lifeboat and eventually sinking. Captain Daniel McVicar tragically drowned, while the other four crew members were rescued after a harrowing ordeal. The body of Captain McVicar was later recovered from the shores of Simcoe Island.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no current Notices to Mariners related to the wreck of the Aloha.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The wreck of the Aloha was discovered in 1964, though details on the specific individual or team who located it are not provided.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The condition of the Aloha wreck has not been thoroughly documented in this report, but given its wooden construction and the time elapsed since its sinking, it is likely in a state of advanced deterioration. The wreck is likely accessible to experienced divers, particularly those interested in Great Lakes shipwrecks, though caution is advised due to the depth and possible remnants of the severe storm that caused its sinking.
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Aloha was a schooner-barge, a type of vessel that was common on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Schooner-barges were originally built as schooners, complete with sails, but were later converted to be towed by steamers. They were used primarily for transporting bulk cargo such as coal, grain, or other commodities across the Great Lakes. The Aloha, with its three masts, was typical of this design, offering the capability to sail if needed, though by the time of its sinking, it was being towed by a steamer.
HISTORY
The Aloha was launched in 1888 in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and served as a cargo vessel for nearly three decades. Throughout its service, it experienced several notable incidents. In 1892, it collided with the schooner Josephine on the Lake George flats in the St. Mary’s River, resulting in the sinking of the Josephine. Later that same year, the Aloha ran aground at Sand Beach, Michigan, where it had to be unloaded before being refloated. The vessel underwent significant repairs in Port Huron later in 1892. By 1902, the Aloha was converted into a barge in Buffalo, New York, marking its transition from a sailing vessel to one primarily towed by steamers. In 1914, it came under Canadian ownership, and by 1917, it was owned by the Midland Transportation Company.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On October 28, 1917, the Aloha was being towed by the steamer C.W. Chamberlain from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Kingston, Ontario, with a cargo of 925 tons of coal. The coal was intended for the Canadian Locomotive Works. However, during a severe storm, the vessel began taking on water and eventually foundered near Nine Mile Point, close to Kingston. The storm, described as one of the worst in years, saw the Aloha swamped by waves, losing its lifeboat and eventually sinking. Captain Daniel McVicar tragically drowned, while the other four crew members were rescued after a harrowing ordeal. The body of Captain McVicar was later recovered from the shores of Simcoe Island.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no current Notices to Mariners related to the wreck of the Aloha.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The wreck of the Aloha was discovered in 1964, though details on the specific individual or team who located it are not provided.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The condition of the Aloha wreck has not been thoroughly documented in this report, but given its wooden construction and the time elapsed since its sinking, it is likely in a state of advanced deterioration. The wreck is likely accessible to experienced divers, particularly those interested in Great Lakes shipwrecks, though caution is advised due to the depth and possible remnants of the severe storm that caused its sinking.
